SOCIETY

Seeking dowry in UP can end up in a thrashing!

     Shamli (Uttar Pradesh): It was a grand celebration that went sour when a Delhi-based family was hauled up before a local police station with bruised faces after it allegedly demanded extra dowry from bride's family just after the wedding was solemnised in Uttar Pradesh. Anuradha, the bride, alleged that her sister-in-law snatched the jewellery she was wearing at the time of marriage after her father expressed his inability to pay Rupees one lakh as dowry demanded by the bridegroom's relatives minutes before the farewell. The demand for dowry made everyone furious, as the family had already been paid a considerable sum in cash and kind, claimed Anuradha. "Just when the wedding ritual was completed and it was time for the departure to bridegrooms' home, the groom's side sought rupees one lakh as dowry. They said they will not take me till my father pays Rupees one lakh. My father said that he had already paid what he could. After that my sister in law snatched away the jewellery I was wearing," said Anuradha.

     Anuradha is now refusing to go her husband Ravi's home and demanded the strictest possible action against him. "I will not go with them now. I want strict action to be taken against them so that they (in-laws) can no longer do this to another girl," she said. Suspecting ill treatment or even threat to Anuradha's life, her family has refused to send her to in laws' residence in Delhi. The family has demanded the money spent so far back. The groom's family, however, alleges that the entire drama was staged managed to possess Rupees two lakh worth of jewellery given as gift to their daughter-in-law. The bride's family has denied this charge. "I will not send my daughter with them now. They will kill her. They are lying . They have not given us gold jewellery worth Rupees two lakh. They have only given us some silver jewellery and a gold ring," said Ballo Devi, the bride's mother. Ravi claims the dispute has been amicably resolved. "We have sorted out the matter. We have not made any demands. They are accusing us wrongly," said Ravi. The local police said both parties have decided not to register any complaint. "Both the families quarrelled over some monetary demands. Earlier, they wanted to register a complaint, but later they decided not to. They have sorted out the matter between themselves," said Kishan Lal, an inspector at the Shamli Police Station. The bridegroom's family has reportedly agreed to return the money given by bride's family.
-Dec 20, 2006

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