COVID-19: Pune cops perform 'kanyaadaan', get couple hitched

A marketing professional and a doctor got married in Pune on Saturday amid the lockdown in the presence of police personnel, with an officer and his wife playing father and mother to carry out the ''kanyadaan'' ritual.

Marketing professional Aditya Bisht and doctor Neha Kushwaha were scheduled to get married on May 2 in Dehradun in Uttarakhand but the plan went kaput due to the covid-19 lockdown.

Parents of bride and groom took part in the Pune wedding from Nagpur and Dehradun through video calls, an official said.

"Last month groom's father Devendra Bisht called up the Pune police control room to get information on whether the couple can travel to Dehradun amid the lockdown. He got my number as I am the nodal officer for Hadapsar police station," Assistant Police Inspector Prasad Lonare said.

"When we told him movement during lockdown for this purpose was not possible, Devendra Bisht asked us if police could help them get married here. I spoke to my seniors who gave permission.

"We helped with all arrangements for the wedding at a hall here, and a colleague Manoj Patil and his wife gave away the bride as per marriage rituals. The parents joined through video call from Nagpur and Dehradun," he added.