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THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS
50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
D E H R A D U N    E D I T I O N

Congress, BJP trying to woo rebels
Dehradun, February 6
The Uttarakhand unit of the Congress is trying to win over rebel party candidates following reports from across the state about the possibility of some of them winning the Assembly elections held on January 30. The rebels, who fought as Independents against the Congress candidates, were expelled by the party on the eve of the elections.

Action against anti-party workers only after report: CM
Haridwar, February 6
With former Chief Minister and candidate from Doiwala Assembly segment Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank alleging that some party insiders worked against him during the election campaign, today Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri today said that any action will depend on the report of Uttarakhand election in charge Rajnath Singh and state party chief Bishan Singh Chufal, who are looking into this matter.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri with Shankaracharya Raj Rajeshwaram and minister Madan Kaushik at Jagadguru Ashram in Kankhal on Monday in Haridwar Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri with Shankaracharya Raj Rajeshwaram and minister Madan Kaushik at Jagadguru Ashram in Kankhal on Monday in Haridwar. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur



EARLIER STORIES



Pithoragarh villages without water, power, roads
Pithoragarh, February 6
Villages inhabited mainly by people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) in all four Assembly seats of Pithoragarh district are still deprived of basic facilities despite promises by successive state governments and candidates of various political parties in the past. These villages lack facilities of “pani, bijli and sadak”.

Pay disparity among Uttarakhand doctors
Dehradun, February 6
After the absorption of 57 allopathic doctors in Uttarakhand last year, the Health Department is now faced with the problem of pay disparity that is now being voiced by doctors who were part of Uttarakhand since the creation of the state.

BARC to get aid for events
Dehradun February 6
The Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) has discussed on providing assistance to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to conduct events in Uttarakhand.

Seminar on techniques of Vedic maths
Haridwar, February 6
For many, calculations involved in mathematics subject is a tough task, but to inculcate interest and teach young students smart technical ways to solve tough questions, a seminar was held at KM Genius Academy.

Students participate in a workshop in a school in Haridwar. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Students participate in a workshop in a school in Haridwar

Shani temple demolished in Nainital
Nainital, February 6
The alleged illegal encroachment on a public road, which had come up in the name of renovation of a Shani temple, was demolished by the local authorities in Nainital. The demolition was carried out on the Thandi Sadak amid a strong police presence to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

Flesh trade racket unearthed
Nainital, February 6
The Haldwani police claims to have busted a flesh trade racket being run in the town. The police carried out a raid in one of the hotels located on Rampur Road and nabbed four persons, including three women, involved in flesh trade and a male agent.

Panel on disposal of waste to be set up
Nainital, February 6
Waking up to the hazard posed by the biomedical waste produced by various medical establishments in Haldwani, the administration is mulling setting up of a special committee to supervise its proper disposal.

Training programme for women scientists on climate change
Dehradun, February 6
In the recent years climate change is one of the few issues that have received tremendous global attention, and to highlight the issue, a training programme for women scientists on Climate Change and Carbon Mitigation was organised at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) at Forest Research Institute here today.
A training programme for women scientists on "Climate change and carbon mitigation" oganised by the ICFRE, Dehradun on Monday
A training programme for women scientists on "Climate change and carbon mitigation" oganised by the ICFRE, Dehradun on Monday.

Yuva Sarafa Mandal team victorious
Dehradun, February 6
The Yuva Sarafa Mandal cricket team defeated the New Friends Cricket Club by six wickets in a match in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League played at the Survey of India stadium here today.
A batsman in action in a match in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League played at Survey Stadium on Monday.

A batsman in action in a match in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League played at Survey Stadium on Monday

St Thomas College win
Dehradun, February 6
St Thomas College defeated the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy by three wickets in a match in the Inter-Council Schools Junior Cricket Tournament played here today. The Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy team scored 90 run all out in 19.5 over after winning the toss.

Boy commits suicide
Dehradun, February 6
A 15-year-old boy Neeraj Parasvan committed suicide at 12 in the afternoon. The boy hanged himself from the ceiling fan and left a suicide note where he mentioned his disinterest in studies and regular fights between mother and elder brother as reasons behind his suicide.

Case filed for harassing wife
Dehradun, February 6
The Vikasnagar police filed a case against Nitin Jain, resident of Janakpuri, Saharnpur, for harassing his wife Swati Jain for dowry.





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Congress, BJP trying to woo rebels
SMA Kazmi/TNS

Dehradun, February 6
The Uttarakhand unit of the Congress is trying to win over rebel party candidates following reports from across the state about the possibility of some of them winning the Assembly elections held on January 30. The rebels, who fought as Independents against the Congress candidates, were expelled by the party on the eve of the elections.

However, reports of many of these rebels doing well and some even in a position to win the poll have forced the Congress to establish contact with them. Interestingly, the Congress, which is hoping to defeat the BJP in the elections, fears that in case it fails to reach the magic figure of 35 in a House of 70 seats, victorious party rebels can be of a great help to form the government.

Senior party leaders, who have been political mentors of these rebel candidates, have been asked to keep the lines of communication open with the latter who are likely to win the elections. Though the Congress leaders are tight-lipped about such a development, they admit in private that some party rebels can come handy in case they win the elections and the Congress falls short by a few seats to form the government.

The Congress is also wary of the fact that the BJP has been working hard to maintain contact with Independent candidates, who are likely to emerge victorious. The Independents and candidates of small parties can play an important role in case both BJP and Congress fail to win a majority in the 70-member House. Though, officially, the Congress will like to wait till the poll results are declared on March 6, unofficially, it has approached many Independent candidates and even invited some of them to meet senior party leaders in New Delhi.

A large number of party rebels from the Congress and the BJP contested the elections as Independents. The BJP had denied ticket to several sitting legislators, including two ministers. Similarly, a large number of Congress rebels are in a strong position to win the elections. In Haridwar district, two Congress rebels, namely Ambrish Kumar from Ranipur BHEL and Mufti Riyasat from Khanpur, are strong candidates. Three party rebels from Tehri Garhwal district, namely Mantri Prasad Naithani from Devprayag, Dinesh Dhanai from Tehri and Jot Singh Bisht from Dhanaulti, are strong candidates to win the elections. Similarly in the Kumoan region, Harish Durgapal from Lal Kuan, Mahesh Sharma from Kaladhungi and Jarnail Singh Kali from Gadarpur are strong candidates.

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Action against anti-party workers only after report: CM
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 6
With former Chief Minister and candidate from Doiwala Assembly segment Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank alleging that some party insiders worked against him during the election campaign, today Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri today said that any action will depend on the report of Uttarakhand election in charge Rajnath Singh and state party chief Bishan Singh Chufal, who are looking into this matter.

CM Khanduri was in Haridwar for a brief stay on the way to Roorkee as he met revered religious guru Shankaracharya Raj Rajeshwaram Maharaj at his Kankhal ashram.

Terming his visit to the ashram as a personal one, Khanduri said that he had been long associated with the revered guru. So whenever he found time he met him to seek blessings.

He refrained from speaking on political matters and sought excuse from media personnel, saying that he had also to reach Roorkee to visit the accidental bridge site.

Haridwar legislator Madan Kaushik, too, refrained from commenting on Nishank’s allegations.

Later, he left for Dayanand Stadium, Gurukul Kangri University, from where he flew in a helicopter to Roorkee.

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Pithoragarh villages without water, power, roads
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, February 6
Villages inhabited mainly by people belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) in all four Assembly seats of Pithoragarh district are still deprived of basic facilities despite promises by successive state governments and candidates of various political parties in the past. These villages lack facilities of “pani, bijli and sadak”.

“The condition of the villages in the district, where mainly Dalits live, has remained unchanged because the political parties have been garnering votes in lieu of money without addressing their problems of missing basic facilities,” said Narayan Ram, Congress candidate from the Gangolihat seat, who had visited more than 40 villages in the constituency inhabited by members of the SC community during campaigning.

Narayan said even such villages like Patarbara, Pokhri, Pali and Bhulura near the town were in a bad shape as there were no employment opportunities, no drinking water supply and schools there were facing a shortage of teachers. “At Chausar village, we found that there was neither a provision for water, electricity or road nor employment opportunities. Dalits, who used to work as farm labourers in the fields of people belonging to the upper castes, were also losing their regular jobs as the latter were leaving cultivation,” said Narayan.

Narayan urged the state government to provide land to landless families belonging to the SC community to improve their socio-economic condition. “Technical institutes like an Industrial Training Institute (ITI), where villagers can improve their skills and earn their livelihood in the locality, are also required,” said Narayan. He added Dyul, Hararkot, Bhul ki Adyali, Dyuri Pant, Bafila Danu, Aamthal and Kuntola villages in Gangolihat area, which are dominated by the SC community, are still without drinking water, electricity and employment opportunities.

Such villages in the Dharchula constituency also share the same fate. Members of the Shilpakar community were engaged in wool-related jobs along with their Bhotiya masters but were at present jobless as their employers had taken to other professions. “In the Dharchula Assembly seat more than 20 villages are without a road link and 10 villages without electricity. Most of the villages inhabited largely by the Schedule Caste community are backward educationally as teachers in schools are more concerned about the mid-day meal scheme than teaching,” said Madan Sanyal, a social worker of the Dharchula area.

“Umargara village has not witnessed even a single work under the MPLAD or MLA’s LAD during 64 years of Independence,” Sanyal said. He added the state government should start residential schools in these villages to improve education and job opportunities for the poor SC community.

Even in Pithoragarh the condition of the villages dominated by Dalits is bad. Sunita Devi, chairperson of the Pithoragarh Zila Panchayat, had visited more than 60 villages of the Pithoragarh seat, which had a sizeable Dalit population. “Kharaku Bhalya village in the Bin block of the Pithoragarh seat, having a population of 500, is still without water, road and education facilities and the villagers have to walk 16 km to reach the road to travel to the district headquarters,” said Sunita.

She added in most of villages inhabited by Dalits roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sarak Yojana or under other projects were not fit for travelling during rain. “Nyali Tok village is one such village where the people cannot use the road during the monsoon,” said Sunita.

She added, “Some of these villages are even being deprived of benefits under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) scheme as neither the villagers insist on jobs due to lack of awareness about the scheme, nor the authorities try to educate them about it.”

The scheme has failed to provide jobs to Dalits in these villages as works under it are mainly handled by contractors and non-government agencies. “We need a provision for punishment for those who violate the rules the scheme,” said Narayan.

Kauli Garali and Jajar villages in the Didihat Assembly seat, which are also dominated by Dalits, have to travel 16 km to reach the local market where the fair price shop is located. “Lima Taura, Than Gaun, Harali, and Jajar villages are nearly 10 to 15 km from the road and the villagers face a shortage of drinking water and teachers in schools and low voltage problem. The villagers have not even benefited from the social welfare schemes relating to old-age pension and housing for the poor,” said Jagdish Kumar, a social worker of the area.

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Pay disparity among Uttarakhand doctors
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6
After the absorption of 57 allopathic doctors in Uttarakhand last year, the Health Department is now faced with the problem of pay disparity that is now being voiced by doctors who were part of Uttarakhand since the creation of the state.

The case of 57 allopathic doctors was hanging fire since the last 10 years as the Uttarakhand government refused to accept that these doctors had opted for the hill cadre, during the creation of the state.

However, while being part of Uttar Pradesh, one among them, Dr Gauri Shankar Joshi, Joint Director, was promoted. Those resenting the absorption of 57 doctors in Uttarakhand are now raking up the promotion issue of Dr Joshi.

“The doctors who were allocated the Uttarakhand cadre did not get promotions, while their counterparts managed to get several promotions and are drawing higher salaries. This is being resented by the doctors who are much senior,” said Dr B.C Ramola, president of Provincial Medical and Health Services (PMHS).

On the other hand, former president of PMHS, Dr S.D. Joshi, said that the basic objection was to the absorption of 57 doctors, and Dr Joshi’s case was being cited to create confusion as a lobby in the PMHS was unhappy that the doctors had been accorded the Uttarakhand cadre. “The absorption is being resented by certain sections. Instead of furthering the case of 57 doctors who were denied their due, needless controversy is being created to undermine the effort,” said Dr S.D Joshi.

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BARC to get aid for events
Tribune News Service

Dehradun February 6
The Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology (UCOST) has discussed on providing assistance to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to conduct events in Uttarakhand.

According to Dr D P Uniyal, senior scientist, “After agreeing on the various points of the BARC, a memorandum was made seeking assistance from the UCOST for hosting exhibitions to display the scientific BARC technique, conducting seminars, symposiums, science fairs, technical training and brain-storming sessions.”

He further said, “The UCOST will also introduce a state-level science congress of the BARC regarding water purification, water quality project and other works regarding the isotope among students in Uttarakhand.”

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Seminar on techniques of Vedic maths
Kids told to avoid calculators
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 6
For many, calculations involved in mathematics subject is a tough task, but to inculcate interest and teach young students smart technical ways to solve tough questions, a seminar was held at KM Genius Academy.

Via visual presentation aided by on-the-spot solving of the mathematical questions, students were in an interesting way demonstrated short-cuts and techniques of Vedic maths.

Students were also encouraged to not to use pencils or calculators for calculations, and to make calculations in their mind only as this will only sharpen their power.

Director of the academy Ajay Aggarwal said that their main focus was to make sure mathematics emerged as an interesting subject as many students, due to fear or seeing tough calculations, deemed it to be a tough subject, which in reality is quite interesting and scoring subject.

At the end of the seminar a questionnaire competition was organised where students were asked questions on the basis of the tips given in the seminar only.

Top three students were also felicitated at the occasion and later to make it more interesting, a cultural display was also done by students.

Jigyasha, a class IV student, remarked that prior to this seminar she always used pen or calculator for even minor calculations but now she realised how easy and effective it was to use Vedic mathematic concepts to solve the tough-looking questions.

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Shani temple demolished in Nainital
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 6
The alleged illegal encroachment on a public road, which had come up in the name of renovation of a Shani temple, was demolished by the local authorities in Nainital. The demolition was carried out on the Thandi Sadak amid a strong police presence to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

On a previous occasion in November, the officials and labourers, who had gone to carry out a demolition at the same spot, had been chased away by some activists of the right- wing Hindu organisations.

However, the police personnel yesterday had sealed both ends of the Thandi Sadak and had been patrolling the Naini lake to make sure that no miscreant reaches the illegal structure while it was being demolished by a team of personnel from the Lake Development Authority (LDA), Municipal Council and the Public Works Department (PWD). Thandi Sadak that has always been a walkers’ delight, has witnessed a series of construction of temples or the expansion of old ones over the past few years. Whether these expansions and new constructions are legal or not remains answered by the administration.

It was in November last year that a furor was generated over the demolition of the alleged encroachment by those managing the Shani temple. This was a grim pointer towards the vested interests at work in the Lake City when it comes to the acquisition of land.

At that time, a team of labourers had demolished the alleged encroachment that had taken place on the Thandi Sadak while the said temple was being reconstructed after it was badly damaged in a rock fall during the monsoons.

The team of labourers had earlier been compelled to return empty handed by a group of smalltime politicians and some people at their behest.

On the following day, those opposed to the demolition had marched to the office of the LDA and had submitted a memorandum of demands.

However, this time around, the demolition was carried out without there being a whimper of protest from any quarter. Observers say that with the polls over, the small-time politicians have no stake in the issue as of now.

However, attempts continue to be made to give a communal colour to developments by certain elements in the media as well as politics. A segment of the media, which is inclined towards a particular ideology, had earlier described the temple as ‘Puranic’ (one finding reference in the Hindu scriptures of Puranas), whereas the locals say that the temple had come into being barely some years back.

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Flesh trade racket unearthed
4 arrested after raid in hotel
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 6
The Haldwani police claims to have busted a flesh trade racket being run in the town. The police carried out a raid in one of the hotels located on Rampur Road and nabbed four persons, including three women, involved in flesh trade and a male agent.

Ironically, a similar raid carried out in the same hotel in 2010 had also led to the busting of a another similar racket. At that time it was five college going girls that had been nabbed along with some male “clients.”

Acting on a tip-off, a team of police officials led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Renuka Devi carried out the raid at the said hotel and nabbed the four accused. One of their accomplices managed to flee from the spot along with the manager of the hotel.

Those nabbed include 32-year-old Sumita and 17-year-old Pinki of Rudrapur, 26-year-old Rekha of Katghar locality in Moradabad and one Narayan of Okhalkanda area of Nainital. The main operator of the racket Adila Khan of Moradabad managed to flee from the spot just when the raid was being carried out by the police. She used to allegedly provide girls to clients in Kashipur, Rudrapur, Haldwani and Moradabad at a cost of Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000.

The police are learnt to have confiscated four mobile phones during the raid. The numbers stored in them are likely to provide links to other similar rackets that are being carried out in the area.

Over the last few years the towns of Rudrapur, Haldwani and Kashipur have witnessed an increase in flesh trade. There have been several rackets that have been busted from time to time. The police claim to have increased their vigil on hotels, guest houses and resorts in the area.

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Panel on disposal of waste to be set up
Tribune News Service

Nainital, February 6
Waking up to the hazard posed by the biomedical waste produced by various medical establishments in Haldwani, the administration is mulling setting up of a special committee to supervise its proper disposal.

Sources say that District Magistrate Nidhi Mani Tripathi has ordered setting up of a special task force for the purpose. This force would have functionaries from the Pollution Control Board as its members along with some others from related departments.

Over the past few days, the local media had been carrying reports of biomedical waste being dumped in the Gaula river basin. It was pointed out that as compared to the patients being reported at various hospitals, little waste was being disposed off in the incinerators set up for the purpose. Whatever waste was being destroyed through the incinerators, pertained to the government-run institutions.

However, with an increase in the interventions at the administrative level, the incinerators have started receiving a greater volume of waste over the past few days.

Apart from the biomedical waste, steps are also being taken by the administration and the local civic body to collect and dispose off the solid waste gathered from across the town.

Emphasis is now on the segregation of the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and its disposal.

It is learnt that a blueprint is being prepared for door-to-door garbage collection in the town.

There are certain localities where waste collection and disposal is a big challenge. The Health Department has been carrying out special drives particularly during the summers and monsoons on proper waste disposal as improper disposal leads to an outbreak of water and air-borne diseases every year.

Plans under way

  • Collection and disposal of solid waste gathered from across the town
  • Segregation of the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste
  • Door-to-door garbage collection

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Training programme for women scientists on climate change
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6
In the recent years climate change is one of the few issues that have received tremendous global attention, and to highlight the issue, a training programme for women scientists on Climate Change and Carbon Mitigation was organised at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) at Forest Research Institute here today.

Omkar Singh, Deputy Director General (Education), ICFRE, speaking at the inaugural function said that climate change was a major challenge for developing countries like India that face large climate variability and are exposed to enhanced risks from climate change.

He said India was a mega-biodiversity country and 10th largest forested country in the world. With nearly 2 lakh villages classified as forest fringe villages, there was obviously large dependence of communities on forest resources. Sandeep Tripathi DDG (Research), ICFRE, while welcoming the participants informed that

ICFRE was proactive in forest and climate change-related issues at the national and international level, and was engaged in the capacity building programmes of the officers of Indian Forest Service and scientists and technologists working in the government sector.

The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) ,Dehradun, is organising a five-day training course for the women scientists and technologists working in government sector from February 6 to 10, 2012, on Climate Change and Carbon Mitigation. About 27 women scientists from different scientific organisations of the country are participating in the training programme. The training programme is sponsored by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, under the National Programme for Training of Scientists and Technologists working in Government Sector, informed Dr. R.S. Rawat, Research Officer at Climate Change division of ICFRE.

Dr. Anita Srivastava conducted the inaugural session, while V.R.S. Rawat of ICFRE proposed the vote of thanks. In the first session, Dr. A.K. Gupta of National Institute for Disaster Management, New Delhi, delivered a lecture on Climate Change and Disaster Management. V.R.S. Rawat from ICFRE spoke of Clean Development Mechanism and procedure for carbon trading projects. Officers and scientist of ICFRE and FRI were present on the occasion.

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Yuva Sarafa Mandal team victorious
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6
The Yuva Sarafa Mandal cricket team defeated the New Friends Cricket Club by six wickets in a match in the 60th Dehradun District Cricket League played at the Survey of India stadium here today.

The New Friends Club team won the toss and elected to bat first. It scored 123 runs losing all wickets in 23.2 overs. Shivender was the highest scorer with 25 runs while opener Samagra scored 22 runs. Sumit took five wickets for 33 runs for the Yuva Sarafa Mandal team.

In reply, the Yuva Sarafa Mandal team scored 125 runs in 14.5 overs at a loss of four wickets. Himanshu scored 43 runs and was ably assisted by Gaurav, who scored 37 runs. Shivender took three wickets for 20 runs.

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St Thomas College win

Dehradun, February 6
St Thomas College defeated the Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy by three wickets in a match in the Inter-Council Schools Junior Cricket Tournament played here today. The Raja Ram Mohan Roy Academy team scored 90 run all out in 19.5 over after winning the toss.

Abhishek Rana was the top scorer with 14 runs. Shivang Vaish took four wickets for 21 runs for the St. Thomas College team.

In reply, the St Thomas College team scored 91 runs for the loss of seven wickets to win the match by three wickets in 16.2 overs. — TNS

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Boy commits suicide
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6
A 15-year-old boy Neeraj Parasvan committed suicide at 12 in the afternoon. The boy hanged himself from the ceiling fan and left a suicide note where he mentioned his disinterest in studies and regular fights between mother and elder brother as reasons behind his suicide.

Neeraj, student of class X of Sri Guru Ram Rai School, hanged himself in his house at Saraswati Vihar when his mother, a homemaker, had gone out to make some purchases. Later, the mother took the help of neighbours in breaking upon the door when Neeraj did not respond to her pleadings to open the door. He was found hanging from the ceiling.

In his suicide note, he said he was no longer interested in studies and was tired of the regular wrangles between his mother and elder brother Santosh, who is in final year of BSC in a city college. The mother used to object to his coming late at night. His father lives in Dubai.

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Case filed for harassing wife
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 6
The Vikasnagar police filed a case against Nitin Jain, resident of Janakpuri, Saharnpur, for harassing his wife Swati Jain for dowry.

Swati accused that Nitin and his family began torturing her a few months after her marriage, which took place on July 1, 2009, in Dehradun for dowry. She came back at parents place in Dehradun and started living here.

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