Jaisalmer:

A 30-year-old bridegroom, who was gifted Rs 5,51,000 as dowry amid wedding rituals, returned the money to the bride’s family soon after the ceremony, earning widespread praise among relatives and villagers in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer.

Paramveer Rathore, a civil services aspirant, got married to Nikita Bhati at a small village named Karaliya on February 14. As Mr Rathore arrived for the wedding on horseback, amidst the beats of dhols and celebrations, he was accorded a grand welcome by the bride’s family.

The “tilak” ceremony soon began, and the groom was showered with gifts by his to-be in-laws. A plate decorated with a red cloth and filled with cash worth Rs 5,51,000, however, caught everyone’s attention.

“When they tried to offer me the money, I was sad to see that such (dowry) practices continue to exist in society. I could not immediately reject it, so I had to carry on with the rituals. I spoke to my father and other family members and said we must return the money,” he told NDTV.

Paramveer Rathore is a civil services aspirant.

“I am a civil services aspirant and I have studied a lot, so I felt if educated people don’t make a change, then who will. We must set an example. My parents agreed and supported me. I also have a sister. If we do not put an end to these malpractices, then how will we bring about a change in society? Each of us has to start somewhere,” he added.

It is up to the educated people to try and bring about a change in society, Mr Rathore said. “It will not happen all of a sudden but we have to start somewhere,” he said. 

Nikita Bhati is a postgraduate student.

Mr Rathore’s father, Ishwar Singh, who is a farmer, echoed similar sentiments. “Today, women are representing the country in every field. That is why we were unable to accept the cash. I accepted just one coconut and a one rupee coin as part of the rituals. We returned all the money. We must stop this practice of dowry,” he said. 

After the wedding ceremony, Mr Rathore returned to his village in Pali with his wife. The newly-wed woman, a postgraduate student, appeared for her exams thereafter.

Back in Karaliya, the woman’s family and the villagers are touched by Mr Rathore’s gesture. 

“The baraat that came from Pali has set an example. They were offered Rs 5,51,000 but by refusing to accept it, they have sent across a message to society that we must stop such feudal practices,” Bhawani Singh Bhati, a relative of the bride, said. 

(With inputs from Sreekant Vyas)

Jaipur:

A 60-year-old tailor was beaten to death by a boy in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district on Friday after his stitched clothes were not delivered on time, police said.

The minor was detained and is being interrogated, officials said.

According to police, the incident took place near Dev Hospital at Pakka Bandha Chauraha in Chomu town where Surajmal Prajapat, had a small tailoring shop.

The minor came asking for his clothes and when Prajapat told him that they were not ready, the minor thrashed him with sticks leading to his death, a police officer said.

“The accused had given clothes for stitching at the tailor’s shop. When they were not ready on time, he got angry and attacked the elderly tailor with sticks,” Chomu Station House Officer Pradeep Sharma said.

Police have also recovered the stick used in the attack and collected evidence from the scene, Sharma said, adding that investigation is ongoing.

The body has been sent to Chomu Government Hospital for postmortem and will be handed over to family for last rites.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jodhpur:

Upset over his business partner’s “betrayal”, a 70-year-old man picked up his two children from their school, took them to his home, allegedly killed them there and hanged their bodies, according to police.

The incident happened in Boranada here and the children’s bodies were found on Sunday, two day after they were reported missing by their family.

Police said they have found a note at the scene, in which the accused has purportedly admitted to killing the children due to the “betrayal” in their partnership in a bangle factory, and also mentioned his intent to commit suicide.

Police said Tamanna alias Tannu (12) and Shivpal (8) had left home on Friday for their school but never returned. Their family searched for them and eventually filed a report at the Boranada police station on Saturday.

DCP (West) Rajarshi Raj Verma said the accused, Shyam Singh Bhati, had started a bangle factory in partnership with Pradeep Devasai nine months ago. However, Devasai left the partnership for some reasons. They knew each other for about 20 years.

“This led to Bhati harbouring resentment against Devasai’s family and wanting to teach him a lesson. Seizing an opportunity, Bhati murdered Devasai’s two children. Their bodies were found in his (Bhati’s) rented house near his factory,” said Verma.

He said Bhati is absconding and a search has been initiated to nab him.

Police said the two children studied at a school in Pal. Two days ago, the accused picked up the children from the school under the pretense of dropping them home, but took them to his house near the bangle factory which is located in the vicinity of the Jain Temple in Boranada.

He killed them there and hanged their bodies, police said.

According to preliminary investigation, Bhati had invested money in the bangle factory, while Devasai worked there as a craftsman. Due to some disagreements, Devasai ended the partnership, resulting in financial losses to Bhati.

Verma said that in the note found at the scene, Bhati has written his partner had “betrayed” him, which is why he also wanted to take his own life.

Devasai’s family originally hails from Uttar Pradesh. He is a bangle craftsman. Bhati hails from Rajasthan’s Phalodi. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A man was hung upside down from a tree and brutally thrashed by a group of people on suspicion of bike theft in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place in Bhakharpura village in Gudha Malani area on Friday, when the man, Shravan Kumar, who is a Dalit, was released on bail in a separate theft case.

In a statement, Barmer Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Singh Meena said Kumar was arrested on December 29, after he was found stealing a bike at a local fair. 

Sources said after Kumar was released on bail a few days ago, villagers accused him of stealing another bike. The man, however, denied the fresh charge against him. 

On Friday, the villagers caught hold of Kumar, tied his hands, and hung him upside down from a tree. “The villagers then thrashed the man. They also made a video recording of the assault, which has now gone viral,” a source said. 

Gudamalani Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sukhram Bishnoi said a case has been registered on the basis of a complaint by the victim and police have taken cognisance of the 53-second clip.

“Kumar was allegedly assaulted by the villagers on suspicion of theft, on Friday. He was earlier booked in another theft case. A case has been registered on the basis of a complaint by the victim and a detailed probe is underway,” Mr Bishnoi said. 

At least 12 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were spotted in a group in the wild in Rajasthan, in a major boost to efforts to conserve one of India’s most critically endangered species.

The birds, locally known in northern and western India as “Godawan” and “Maldhok”, were spotted at Desert National Park (DNP), located near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer, on Monday.

“The 12 Great Indian Bustards were captured in a single frame. Earlier, they were seen together inside the DNP closure (Sudashri area). In October and February 2023, nine birds were seen together inside the DNP area. This (latest) photo shows the results of the efforts being taken to protect the endangered state bird. It also shows the need and importance of the closure made within the DNP area,” Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ashish Vyas said. 

The GIB is a highly endangered bird species found in the Thar area of Rajasthan. Today, only 173 birds are left, of which, 128 are found in the wild and the remaining are bred in captivity.

Besides Rajasthan, the bird is found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

In 2011, the birds were listed as “critically endangered” by IUCN Red List. (Dr Ashish Vyas, DCF, Desert National Park)

In 2011, the GIBs were listed as “critically endangered” – the highest level of threat – by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. According to IUCN, hunting, disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation were among factors that had reduced the population of these magnificent species.

Two years later, Rajasthan became the first state to launch a Rs 12.90 crore worth project to save the GIB. The state adopted a two-pronged strategy to conserve the species – protect its natural habitat and improve conditions for breeding.

So far, 45 chicks have been bred in two sites – one in Sam and the other in Ramdevra.

“The birds that were spotted together on Monday were born in the wild. They are mostly females, about three to four years old. Some of them may also be males of up to one year of age. We protect these birds by improving the grasslands, which are their natural habitat. These birds are omnivorous and feed on insects and desert fruits. So, when their habitat is improved, they have enough food. We also fence the areas they are found in to protect them from predators like the desert fox, the desert cat and the mongoose,” Mr Vyas said.

“These birds lay their eggs in the ground but the eggs are often carried away by the predators. By fencing their habitat, we ensure that they can successfully breed in the wild. They are also protected from cattle that often stray into these grasslands. The fenced areas are patrolled by the field staff,” he added.

Recently in October, the state government’s GIB conservation programme touched another milestone when for the first time ever, scientists at the National Conservation Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer hatched a GIB chick through artificial insemination. 

The little chick, a male, is now nearly four months old and has been named “Arambh”.

In 2018, the Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with the Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and Forest Department, established the Great Indian Bustard Artificial Breeding Center in Jaisalmer under the Bustard Recovery Program. The programme aims to increase the GIB population.

The couple slept with a fireplace burning in the room. (Representational)

Kota:

The Kota district administration has claimed that there has been a 50 per cent decline in the number of suicides by students this year as compared to 2023 in this coaching hub of Rajasthan known for preparing students for IIT-JEE entrance tests.

However, no specific breakdown of the numbers has been provided by the officials.

“In comparison to last year, the suicide rate among coaching students has decreased by 50 per cent this year, which is a significant figure in terms of the efforts yielding results. We expect this trend to continue in the future,” Kota Collector Ravindra Goswami told PTI in a brief interview.

Kota witnessed 17 cases of suicides by coaching students in 2024, compared to 26 such cases in 2023, as per reports.

According to Goswami, the decline in suicide cases can be attributed to strict compliance with guidelines for coaching institutes and hostels under the vigilance of the district administration.

Other measures, such as gate-keeper training for hostel wardens based on WHO norms and the implementation of SOS Help services, have also contributed to the reduction in suicide cases.

Regular interactive sessions with coaching students through events like ‘Dinner with Collector’ and ‘Samwad,’ as well as the deployment of the Kalika Squad for women’s safety and the safety of girl aspirants, have played a role in this change, Goswami added.

The district collector said he interacted with over 25,000 coaching students this year through events like ‘Dinner with Collector’ and ‘Samwad,’ where he addressed their concerns.

However, industry stakeholders have pointed out that business has slowed down for coaching centres and hostels in Kota following negative publicity over student suicides, new guidelines regulating coaching centres, and the expansion of coaching brands to other cities.

The number of students in Kota has fallen to 85,000 to 1 lakh this year, down from the usual 2-2.5 lakh, leading to a reduction in annual revenues — from Rs 6,500-7,000 crore to Rs 3,500 crore, they said.

Goswami also mentioned the launch of a programme called ‘Kota Cares’, which reaffirms the commitment to the well-being and safety of coaching students.

The three-day Kota Mahotsav, which concluded on Wednesday, aimed at offering entertainment while showcasing Kota as a tourist city with a rich cultural heritage, he said.

Goswami emphasised that the ‘Kota Cares’ programme highlights that the city has offered coaching to over one crore students from across the country, playing a significant role in their lives, regardless of the careers they pursue.

The programme also involves inviting Kota alumni — former students who have studied in the city — to interact with the current aspirants and reassure them that the city now offers better facilities and an improved environment, he said.

Meanwhile, Goswami has written to the parents of coaching students, extending his New Year greetings and reaffirming Kota’s commitment to the overall development and safety of their children.

“I assure you that Kota is fully committed to the overall development and safety of students,” he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ahmedabad:

A couple from Rajasthan was detained at Ahmedabad airport for allegedly trying to smuggle two high-end watches worth approximately Rs 13 crore from Dubai on Friday, officials in the Customs Department said on Sunday.

The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Richard Mille watches, mostly spotted on the wrists of billionaires or celebrities, were seized from the man and the woman, who arrived separately at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport from Dubai. 

According to the officials, one of them spotted the woman with one of the watches on her arrival from Dubai. Upon interrogation, she said it was gifted by her husband. When she was asked about her husband’s whereabouts, she said he was arriving on another flight.

The woman’s husband, the officials said, was caught when he was trying to exit the airport on his arrival. He initially claimed that the watch belonged to him and that it cost around Rs 1,000. When he was asked to produce a bill, he said he did not have one. 

As authorities searched his belongings, they found the case for the watch. The man then admitted to smuggling the item, the officials said. 

The couple was subsequently detained and upon interrogation, said they belong to Pratapgarh in Rajasthan. They said they were made to travel to Dubai to bring the watches to Ahmedabad, the officials added. 

The officials said a detailed probe is underway.

(With inputs from Mahendra Prasad)

Jaipur:

Mukadma (case), Mulzim (accused), Ilzam (allegation), Ittila (information), Chashmdeed (eyewitness) and many such terms may not be a part of policing vocabulary in Rajasthan for long, with the BJP government in the state issuing direction to replace them with appropriate Hindi words.

The state police headquarters started the exercise following a letter by Minister of State (Home) Jawahar Singh Bedham, seeking information about such words and their Hindi alternatives.

Following the letter, state police chief U R Sahoo wrote to Additional Director General of Police (Training) last month to collect details of Urdu words and find out their appropriate replacements.

In the letter, he also instructed the officer to omit Urdu terms from training material, apprise all trainees of the new Hindi words, and disseminate information about the new Hindi words in the ongoing training programmes.

The DGP’s communication, dated November 11, also gives a reference of the letter from MoS Bedham.

ADG (Crime), meanwhile, also wrote to all police range inspector generals on December 10 in reference to the DGP’s letter. And then, letters were sent to all SPs of the state.

“In the follow-up of the instructions from the PHQ (Police headquarters), the SPs have been asked to collect information about the Urdu words and their Hindi replacements,” a police official said.

The Congress party criticised the government over the move, calling it uncalled for.

“Law and order situation is worsening in the state but the state government is not bothered about it. Rather than replacing words which have been there in practice for long, the government should take effective action to control crime and restore law and order,” he said.

There are several terms which are commonly used in police, like Mukadma (case), Mulzim (accused), Mustagis (complainant), Ilzam (allegation), Ittila (information), Chashmadeed (eye-witness), Jeb Tarashi (pick pocketing), Ferd Baramadgi (recovery memo) among others.

They and many other Urdu terms may not be a part of the policing vocabulary in the state for long.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

A rescue operation that went on for 57 hours amid plummeting temperatures ended in vain after a five-year-old boy was pulled out of a borewell in Rajasthan’s Dausa, but died.

Aryan fell into the 150-feet-deep borewell while playing in a field in Kalikhad village around 3 pm on Monday and the rescue operation began an hour later.

JCBs, drilling machines and a piling rig were deployed to dig a parallel tunnel to rescue the child, while oxygen was supplied through a pipe and CCTV cameras monitored his condition.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel said there were myriad challenges in the operation, including the water level estimated to be around 160 feet. The difficulty in capturing the boy’s movements on camera due to steam underground and safety concerns for the rescue staff were also among the challenges in the operation, they told news agency PTI.

After he was pulled out in an unconscious state, a green corridor was created to take Aryan to a hospital in an ambulance equipped with advanced life support system. However, he was declared dead.

In September, a two-year-old girl was rescued from a 35-foot open borewell in the Bandikui area of Dausa, after 18 hours of rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF. The girl was trapped at a depth of 28 feet, and a similar approach was initiated to rescue her.