Ludhiana, January 31
The only son of a family from Moga, allegedly an HIV positive case, married a girl of Chakra village in Jagraon subdivision of this district.
This fact came to light today after a high-level inquiry into the case was conducted by the Jagraon police. A case of cheating, forgery and harassment for dowry has been registered against Army man Gurpreet Singh, his mother Swaranjit Kaur and sisters Karamjit Kaur and Rani, at the Jagraon Sadar police station today evening.
The girl had to undergo medical examination frequently to detect infection. The tests were negative so far, but doctors say the virus usually remains dormant for years.
“It is one of the most despicable social crimes, I have come across in my life,” said Mr M.S. Chhina, SSP, Jagraon, commenting on the case. He said the police had received a complaint a few months ago and registered a case only after a detailed investigation.
The girl married Gurpreet Singh, a Sepoy with the Indian Army, on December 12, 2001. The boy hailed from Minni village in Moga district. The girl’s family learnt about the disease from senior Army officers of the boy, when they had sought their help regarding the dowry harassment.
According to the report of the inquiry, submitted by SP(H) Jagraon, J.S. Dhaliwal, the accused groom and his parents were aware of the infection. But they cheated the victim’s family for dowry. Police sources said the boy’s parents said they had not known that the infection could pass on to the children.
The inquiry officer has attached a letter by Col. S.S. Dhankar, Commanding Officer which confirms that Gurpreet knew that he had AIDS. The letter says while serving in the Rashtriya Rifles battalion, the soldier was found infected after a medical test. He got the infection through a commercial sex worker.
The letter says the soldier knew about the deadly virus and the consequences if he married or had sex. A Junior Commissioned Officer was sent specially to his village to inform his parents that they should not marry their son and take precautions not to spread the disease.
The inquiry report also states that the girl used to be harassed for more dowry by her mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and other relatives. The boy’s family was given dowry but still the girl used to be harassed for bringing a car.
