Post News Network
Kendrapara, April 30: Prison house may be an unlikely place for tying the nuptial knot but it did happen at the sub-jail here Thursday uniting two young hearts. It was an inter-caste marriage.
On being ordered by the special judge-cum-district judge Biranchi Kumar Rath, the superintendent of Kendrapara sub-jail made necessary arrangements to solemnise the marriage of 22-year-old Balaram Bhoi with Laxmipriya Sutar who has just become an adult.
After the marriage, the bridegroom was sent to jail custody while the bride handed over to a short stay home. She will be there till the groom is release on bail.
Balaram, the son of Malaya Bhoi of Manakarpur had fallen in love with Laxmipriya, the daughter of Sibaram Sutar, of Belapal village. Their love affair, continuing for nearly two years, culminated in an elopement earlier this year. As Balaram fled with Laxmipriya, her father lodged an FIR at Kendrapara Town police station alleging that her minor daughter had been kidnapped by Balaram.
Police later registered a case under Section 363,376(2)(n) of IPC; Section 4 of Protection of Children From Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, 2012 and started inquiry. Police arrested Balaram March 6 from his house and rescued the girl.
Balaram was later remanded to jail custody as the girl was a minor. Laxmipriya was later handed over to Kendrapara-based Rural Institute for Education and Social Welfare Affairs (RIESWA), a short stay home for destitute women.
Meanwhile, April 12, 2015, Laxmipriya became a major and prayed before the court to marry Balaram with the help of the superintendent of RIESWA and legal aid council. Balaram’s father also filed an affidavit before the special judge cum-district judge that he does not have any objection to accept Laxmipriya as his daughter-in-law.
Minati Moharana, the superintendent of RIESWA informed that as per the court’s order, Balaram’s father bore all the expenses for solemnising the marriage at Kendrapara sub-jail.
The marriage mandap was prepared inside the jail premises and solemnised at the administrative block of Kendrapara sub-jail with the chanting of mantras by priest in the presence of lawyers, reporters, public prosecutors, jail superintendent, superintendent of RIESWA, legal aid counsel and the family members of the bridgegroom. But, the bride’s family members skipped from the marriage.
Later, sweets were distributed among those present at the marriage venue.
The public prosecutor of district judge and sessions court Bhimasen Bhuiyan said Balaram is going to be released from jail within a couple of days.
