17-year-old burnt to death over dowry demand, two arrested

Vartha Bharati | 08-12-2019 | 14:59:00 IST

Agartala: A 17-year old girl was allegedly set on fire and killed by her fiance and his mother in South Tripura district, after her parents failed to cough up a dowry of Rs 50,000, a police officer said on Sunday.

The teenager, who suffered 90 per cent burns, was early on Saturday admitted to GP Pant Hospital here, where she succumbed to her injuries, he said.

Ajoy Rudra Pal (21) and his mother, Minati, were arrested, based on a complaint filed by the girl's family with Santirbazar police station in South Tripura, Officer-in-Charge Narayan Chandra Saha said.

They would be produced before a local court in district headquarters Belonia, he said.

Explaining the sequence of events, Saha said, "Pal eloped with Shukla Choudhury, a resident of Khowai district, on October 28 and had sought to formalise their marriage on December 11.

"His mother, however, met the girl's parents on December 6 and allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from them. Shukla's parents could cough up only Rs 15,000, citing their poor financial condition." Hours later, the 17-year-old was admitted to the hospital with 90 per cent burns, the officer said.

Pal, on his part, said the girl committed suicide, a claim refuted by her family.

"I was in the other room, when I heard Shukla screaming. I along with other villagers rescued her and rushed her to the hospital," Pal, a daily wager, told reporters before being whisked away by police.

Sabita Choudhury, the victim's mother, said Pal's mother had sought Rs 50,000.

"She was just 17-year-old, my elder daughter... She fled with Ajoy to his house, following which we decided that their marriage be solemnised. Pal's mother sought Rs 50000, but we could gather only Rs 15,000. That night itself, I wanted to talk to my daughter, but Pal did not allow her.

"The next thing we know is that she has been admitted to a hospital with burn injuries," the victim's mother said.

Condemning the incident, Papia Datta, the president of BJP Mahila Morcha (women's wing) demanded "exemplary punishment for the culprits".

"We condemn this heinous crime and seek exemplary punishment. Our party is holding campaigns across the state to create awareness on crimes against women," she added.

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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.