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NRI brides face bleak future

By Mandira Nayar

NEW DELHI JUNE 18. Palwinder Kaur has a chirpy two-year-old daughter her husband in Italy has never seen. Beaten up and thrown out by her in-laws for not bringing dowry, even the law seems to have abandoned her. Her story is not unusual. There are many more like her who have now become mere statistics.

Yes, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) deserting their spouses has become all too common. Breaking down often at a press conference here today, Palwinder said: "They are trying to prove that I am mentally unsound. I keep turning to the Crimes Against Women Cell, but all I get are fresh dates.''

Terming it a socio-economic problem that has not been addressed by the Government, the Lok Bhalai Party chief and former Union Minister, B.S. Ramoowalia, says there are about 10,000 girls in Punjab alone who have no future. "Even the police refuse to help and these girls have no one to turn to.''

While this might be common enough in rural Punjab, it is not unheard of even in civilised Delhi. Said Amrita (name changed), a fashion design student: "I never thought it could happen to me. We were introduced by a common relative. My husband spent about 15 days with me after my marriage and went off to Canada. My sister-in-law tortured me for dowry. They kept taunting me saying I had come empty-handed.''

Amrita decided to turn to the law for help. "We went to the Crimes Against Women Cell but the Joint Commissioner of Police, Vimla Mehra, was of little help. While she was keen on closing the case, we kept getting dates to meet the other party to resolve the matter. However, we are the only ones turn up. A case is still to be registered,'' she complained bitterly.

Suggesting that registration of First Information Report (FIR) against the accused grooms and their close relatives should be made mandatory, Mr. Ramoowalia also demanded setting up of special "fast track courts'' besides issuance of Look Out Circulars for fleeing grooms within 12 hours of registration of the cases.

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