UP policemen play matchmaker for couple turned away by kin

KANPUR: A police station on Saturday turned into a wedding venue for a 'lover-couple', who was later married of by the police personnel as both the families were against their love marriage. Shiva from Sachendi area of the city, fell in love with a local girl Lakshmi. When Lakshmi's family learnt about their relationship, they disapproved their relationship.

"On Friday, when Shiva, a fruit vendor, visited Lakshmi's family members and shared with them their wedding plan, they allegedly warned him of dire consequences. They also went to his residence and threatened his parents and other family members," informed locality sources.

Fearing that they could be harmed, the couple then approached the Sachendi police and requested the officials on duty to sort out their problem. Station House Officer (SHO), Sachendi, Raghvendra Singh, after investigating the case, found that the duo who were adults loved each other and wanted to get married following a courtship of nearly eight years.

The police later arranged for a priest and their wedding was solemnised on the premises of the police station with the consent of both the families. "The girl's parents came to the police station to get the report registered against Shiva and his family members. Police, however, found that they were adults and wanted to get married. We then convinced the girl's family," said the SHO.

"The wedding was solemnised with the consent of both the families at a temple located on the premises of the police station amid chanting of mantras," the SHO told TOI. The bride, the groom and their families posed for selfies after the 'pheras', with blessings from policemen, he added.