Per: U.C. Dhyani, J.

In the present criminal appeal, criminal law was set into motion at the instance of informant Bhagat Singh Aswal, brother of the deceased. In his complaint (Ext. Ka-5) submitted to Sub Divisional Magistrate, Kotdwar on 26.08.1995, the informant stated that he was working as Rifleman in the Indian Army and was a resident of village Jamal (Dabralsuin). It was also stated that his sister was married to Yogambar Singh s/o Govind Singh, resident of village Teel (Bhawansi), Post Bhawansi, Patti Ajmer (Valla) in the month of April 1993 according to Hindu rites and rituals. It was alleged that one year after her marriage, the sister of the informant was subjected to cruelty by her in-laws for non-fulfillment of demand of dowry and ultimately his sister was told to bring Rs. 50,000/- from her parents and brother. The informant in his complaint stated that being a soldier he could not afford to fulfill such a huge demand and as a result, his sister was done away with on 14.07.1995. His father was forced to put his signatures on some papers under compulsion. Dead body of his sister was cremated on 15.07.1995 by 17 persons without obtaining medical report. The de