New love police

If you are in love and the threat of ’honour killings’ has been giving you sleepless nights, there’s finally help at hand — in true comic hero style, there’s now someone to champion Cupid’s cause.

If you are in love and the threat of ’honour killings’ has been giving you sleepless nights, there’s finally help at hand — in true comic hero style, there’s now someone to champion Cupid’s cause. ‘Love Commandos’, is a Delhi-based organisation that has over 2,000 young members, comprising teachers, lawyers, students and doctors who have come together to support young, helpless couples across the country.

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“The sudden spate of honour killings has compelled us to form this organisation”, says founding member Sanjoy Sachdev. They have launched a helpline number (9313784375) for couples who are harassed by relatives or strangers. “One can call any time and discuss their problem,” he adds.

Once the nature of the harassment comes to light, lawyers on the team jump into action, lodging a complaint and providing security and public support. Facilitating marriages is also on their agenda. “We received a case of a young married couple where the boy was being harassed by the girl’s family. We have taken the case forward and the couple will soon meet the Head of Delhi Commission for Women,” says Sachdev.

All the legal assistance is free of cost, except for the money involved in making affidavits. “We take a couple’s case to court and make sure they get proper protection. If the couple is a major, then any harassment by the parents is considered null according to the law”, says Sanjay Kumar, advocate, High court.