Police Jobs As Wedding Gift For Former Maoists Who Surrendered For Love

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh: There was band, bajaa and baarat. The wedding tent was agog with activities. The drummers played to the traditional beat. All this may sound like just any other Indian wedding except this one was not.

Koshi Markam and Lakshman Podiyal reportedly fell in love when they were members of a Maoist group. While Koshi was a platoon member, Lakshman was a Janmilitia Deputy commander in the forests of Bastar.

After the seniors at the group refused to give them permission for marriage, the couple chose love over violence and surrendered to the police.

The district administration and state police then decided to go out of their way to reward them for their decision and also to set an example for other Maoists.

Inspector General Bastar Range SRP Kalluri said, "If a Maoist commander from Andhra or Telangana marries there is no protest about it. But a Maoist for Chhattisgarh origin is not allowed to marry. They are punished and even killed. So, with this wedding we went to send out a message to other Maoists that if they choose to surrender, we will help them get married and even give them a job."

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The police officials in Bastar went out their way to organise the grand wedding for the couple. Their wedding was attended by 5,000 guests that included Inspector General, Collector and other senior police officials.

As a wedding gift, both were given police jobs.
 Wearing in a pink saafa, Lakshman Podiyam said, "Earlier we were fighting against the police and fighting for the Maoists. But the seniors didn't approve of our love so we surrendered and now police got us married. Our families are very happy and they have also come give their blessings."

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As per the Chhatisgarh police, over 600 Maoists have surrendered in 2015. The state police hope that with their unique approach they would be able to convince more Maoists like Lakshman and Koshi to give up the path of violence.