Police in Maoist areas get no brides

There are a total of 2,000 policemen, including Armed Reserve, APSP and civil police, working at 17 police stations in 11 Agency mandals in Vizag Agency.

Of the 17 police stations in the area, nine are in Maoist strongholds like Chintapa-lle, G Madugula, GK Veedhi, Koyyuru, Sileru, Annavar-am, Munchangiput and Pedabayalu, and eight others are in Maoist-affected areas.

Police personnel are dep-loyed in Maoist bastions for three to five years, depending on the situation and vacancies in other areas. “My salary is good. All I need is a wife,” said constable Ch Suresh Kumar. His prospects of finding one, he says, is zilch.

“No family wants to send their daughter into a Maoist-prone area by marrying them to policemen deployed there, as there is no guarantee of the spouse’s life…I am sure I can get a bride only after transfer to Vizag Rural (in the plains),” added Mr Suresh, 28.

Visakha Rural superintendent of police Dr Koya Praveen said that girls prefer police personnel employed in peaceful areas in Vizag rural and towns. He said some young DSP-rank officers had managed to tie the knot only after being transferred from the Maoist areas.

Sources in the police said there is 37 per cent vacancy in the Armed Reserve, 26 per cent in the civil police and 7 per cent in the Special Police in Vizag Agency. Hence, getting a transfer out of the Maoist area is not easy.

The SP said that they are chalking out plans to find a solution. At a time when the extremists are encouraging comrades to tie the knot, anti-Maoist forces are finding it tough to get married,” said a policeman who did not want to be named.