Muthalik taken into preventive custody

Bangalore, Feb 13, (ANI): Sri Ram Sena chief Pramod Muthalik and 140 of his supporters were taken into preventive custody on Friday.

This was for the precautionary measures ahead of Valentines Day on February 14.

Muthalik was arrested at Kamalapura while his supporters were held in Bangalore.

The convenor of the outfit, Prasad Attwar and four others have also been held in Mangalore.

Bangalore police commissioner Shankar Bidari said, "We have so far arrested about 140 suspects who can cause disturbances tomorrow and remanded to judicial custody till February 16. Arrests are continuing."

The group has threatened to disrupt Valentine's Day celebrations and marry off couples dating on the day in Karnataka.

In Bangalore, 18,000 police personnel had been deployed to provide security cover, Bidari said.

Official sources said the government had issued instructions to police to deal sternly with trouble-makers. (ANI)