70 V Day-linked arrests in MP

Bhopal, Feb 14 (UNI) Seventy Valentine's Day-related arrests were executed in different places of Madhya Pradesh where lovers expressed their affection mainly through exchange of roses.

Official sources claimed that no violence was reported and couples were not subjected to misbehaviour. Parks, picnic spots, hotels and restaurants were under priority surveillance in view of an apprehension that Valentine's Day supporters and those opposing it might clash.

Those arrested were workers of the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Dharma Sena, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and National Students' Union of India. Thirty arrests each were carried out in Madhya Pradesh's commercial capital Indore and the cantonment town Jabalpur while the rest took place here.

''Four shiv sainiks were apprehended this morning while heading for Peergate to protest against Valentine's Day. Six arrests were executed last night,'' said Bhopal's Superintendent of Police Anant Kumar Singh.

UNI