Jaipur, July 18: In Deorala village, 18-year-old Roop Kanwar was burnt alive on her husband's pyre 16 years ago. Thirty nine people were accused of forcing Roop Kanwar to commit sati. However, after all these years, not one of the accused has been convicted since the prosecution's witnesses turned hostile.
Hearings in the case finally begin today at the special sati court here. Twenty-one people, who allegedly organised rallies and processions praising the sati, will finally face trial. Among the accused are Roop Kanwar's in-laws, who claim they are not worried.
"She had committed sati but the government unnecessarily created a storm. We never did anything wrong or illegal but the police keeps making up false charges. So why should we be worried?" said Roop Kanwar's relative. Bureau Report