Nagpur: CoBRA commandos turn ‘brothers’ to marry off late colleague’s daughter

NAGPUR: The personnel of 206 CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) unit were on a unique mission on May 10 at Lakhni in Bhandara district. They played the role of brothers at the marriage of the daughter of their late colleague, who had passed away due to illness while on duty last year.
Narayan Maraskolhe’s daughter Ekta, along with her mother, had gone to invite her father’s former colleagues at their post in Bhandara for her marriage. The ex-colleagues decided to extend their assistance in a unique manner, instead of just handing over some gifts and cash.
The CoBRA unit, which is an elite group of commandos of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), is learnt to have turned the occasion into an emotional one. Apart from extending monetary support, the commandos and their officers also toiled from ‘haldi’ to ‘bidai’ for their ex-colleague’s daughter’s marriage. It’s learnt that Narayan would often speak to his colleagues about concerns for his daughter’s marriage and her education. Though Narayan had ensured she completed her post-graduation, he could not solemnize her marriage before passing away at the age of 53 years.
With the commanding officer’s initiative, the unit also sent vehicles for the marriage. “On the day of marriage, a vehicle is required to ferry guests, bring materials required etc during the marriage. Our seniors spared one for the marriage, thinking the fatherless family may not be able to arrange so much within limited resources,” said an official.
A group of commandos carried the bridal veil, a canopy of floral decoration, on her head like brothers, to escort her to the ‘mandap’. “We commandos and our officers were not present as guests, but toiled as the bride’s brothers,” said one of the commandos present at the marriage venue.
The commandos also welcomed guests, helped in the cooking, managing the marriage preparations, and also ensured each guest had the feast before leaving the venue. “It was just like family members that the jawans and officers toiled at the marriage venue,” said the commando, recalling the mission which was different from their routine responsibility of fighting armed Maoists and insurgents fighting against the government.
Narayan Maraskolhe had joined the force in 1995. His younger brother Dhanraj too is head constable with CRPF, deployed in Jharkhand. His son is serving with the Bhandara police.
The commandos said it was an emotional exercise for the unit, delivered from the heart as a sign of solidarity in the force. “We wanted to make the family feel that he (Narayan) may have gone but is certainly not forgotten by us. He was a colleague who died a natural death while serving in the force. We cannot leave his family behind, especially when the father is not there and the daughter’s marriage was to be performed,” said an emotional CoBRA jawan.