Marriages are...made at police stations sometimes!

Bangalore, 03 October 2010: The chamber of ACP Pulikeshinagar sub-division virtually turned into a wedding hall on Saturday evening.

 

Nearly 15 policemen, led by ACP B B Ashok Kumar performed a few rituals as the man, who was in love with his woman for over eight years, tied the knot. The wedding assumed significance as the bridegroom was a Hindu and the bride a Muslim.

 

Ashok Kumar told Deccan Herald: “Madhu and Wahida Banu, both 23 and from Konanur in Arakalgodu approached me around 6 pm. They told me they were in love for the past eight years, but could not get married due to stiff opposition from parents, especially Banu’s. They had decided to commit suicide if the police failed to help them in marrying.”

 

The police, who were dumbfounded for a while, collected background information of the two and decided to conduct the wedding. “Madhu had brought the mangala sutra and we ordered for two garlands. Soon, Madhu tied the mangala sutra around Banu’s neck and they exchanged the garlands,” Ashok Kumar explained.

 

The first thing the new couple did after the exchanging the garlands was to offer prayers to Gandhi’s portrait.

 

Madhu and Wahida Banu fell in love when they were in school. Madhu came to Bangalore and worked as a cab driver for a BPO company. He also acquired some property in the City. However, Banu’s parents, who own some lands at Konanur, always opposed the alliance. Banu fled from her house on September 29, came to Bangalore and joined Madhu. They had heard about Ashok Kumar, who had in the past helped a few couples, and decided to meet him.

 

The officer advised Madhu to look after Banu properly till his last breath as she had parted ways with her parents to lead a new life with him. Madhu told the police he would not force her to convert or prevent her from practicing her religion. The police have summoned the couple’s parents.