Sporadic protest mark Valentine celebrations

New Delhi, Feb 14 (UNI) A chill in the air in the north brought lovers closer on Valentine's day today while several outfits opposing the celebrations on "moral" grounds managed to generate some heat burning greeting cards and posters by the dozen in several towns and cities across the country.

Police maintained tight vigil to prevent any untoward incidents.

to prevent any donned the scene where Seventy Valentine's Day-related arrests were made in Madhya Pradesh.

Those arrested in Madhya Pradesh were workers of the Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena, Dharma Sena, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and National Students' Union of India, police said. No violence was reported in the state, official sources said.

Jaipur saw Shiv Sainiks raiding city's Central Park, Raja Park, Gaurav Towers and some hotels to protest aginst Valentine's Day celebrations, saying it signifies the influence of Western culture.

Apart from Shiv Sena, some other organisations like Sanskriti Bachao Samiti also came forward to protest against the celebrations in the pink city.

In Varanasi, Shiv Sena activists carried out anti-V'day procession in the city, while its breakaway faction Kranti Shiv Sena took out a mock funeral procession.

Activists of the Samajwadi Chattra Sabha (SCS), students wing of ruling Samajwadi Party, however, took out a motor cycle procession to spread the message of love.

Security was tight at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus.

Elsewhere in Varanasi, Shiv Sena activists and others rounded up some of the 'lovers' and made them tie rakhis to convert their love into "brother-sister" relationship.

In Jammu and Kashmir capital Srinagar activists of Forum Against Social Evils (FASE) raided several restaurants and also burnt Valentine's Day cards in the civil line area today. Burqua-clad activists of Dukhtaran-I-Millat also held a demonstration with placards and burnt Valantine cards.

Lovers in Agra, the city of Taj Mahal, a symbol of eternal love, faced the wrath of Shiv Sainiks, who performed 'latth puja' (cane worship) at the Hanuman temple near Saint Jones square "to teach a lesson to all 'Laila-Majnus' in the city.

In Karnal, Haryana, Shiv Sainiks forced shopkeepers selling flowers, bouquets and greeting cards to down their shutters even as the police remained a mute spectator.

In a cavalcade headed by a hooter-fitted jeep, the Shiv Sainiks carried on their anti-Valentine campaign through local markets, including Purani Anaj Mandi, while three police vehicles closely followed them.

In Pune, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), the youth wing of the Shiv Sena, attacked two places and ransacked shops selling Valentine's Day gift items.

However, police said that except some minor incidents, the city has been peaceful so far.

In Ranchi, Shiv Sainiks and Bajrang Dal activists targeted a few young couples at the Nakshtra Van, one of the favourite spots for young lovers.

However, the district administration claimed to have made elaborate security arrangements to avoid any untoward incident in view of alleged protests by Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and other organisations like Hindu Jagran Manch.

In of Andhra Pradesh, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists burnt St. Valentine in effigy in Tirupati and observed a 'black day'.

In Kolkata, a jewellery festival was organised to attract the young and trendy. Lovers managed to catch a few moments undisturbed in the lawns of the landmark Victoria Memorial.

Shillong hosted a Strawberry festival as the fruit is connected with the festival of hearts.

UNI