The Hindu : National : Gloom over Dutt’s ancestral village

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 01, 2007
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National

Gloom over Dutt’s ancestral village

Mandoli (Haryana): Disappointment engulfed this nondescript ancestral village of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt after a Mumbai court sentenced him to six-year rigorous imprisonment for illegal possession of arms in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Eight km from Yamunanagar, Mandoli were eagerly awaiting the TADA court verdict. While several villagers remained glued to their television sets, others offered prayers in temples and at their homes for a verdict in favour of their “hero.”

Radhakrishan temple priest Ramanand said, “We offered prayers since morning for a lenient view by the judge against Dutt. However, it was unfortunate that Dutt got the punishment.” He said he was confident that the actor might get some relief from the Supreme Court.

“I was shellshocked,” former village head Satnam Singh said while reacting to the court order. “It is a very sad moment for all of us,” he said. However, most of villagers could not recall when they last saw Dutt in the village.

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