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New headache for cops: Sriram Sene planning Valentine’s Day trouble

  • Police have assured that they are preparing to deter disruption on February 14.
  • The Sriram Sene plans to distribute leaflets warning against celebrations.
  • Nearly 60 advanced surveillance cameras will be installed at major city junctions.
Muthalik Valentines Day Bengaluru

Even as the Bengaluru Police faces heavy criticism for its inadequate response to incidents of mass molestation in the city on New Year’s Eve, hard-line Hindu group Sriram Sene has said it would distribute leaflets against celebrating Valentine’s Day. This has raised concerns about the safety of couples and women on the day, which is celebrated on February 14, given past incidents of assault.

 

Pramod Muthalik, leader of the Sriram Sene, which has disrupted Valentine’s Day celebrations in the past, said such celebrations were an attempt to impose western culture on Indian youth."On these days, drug and liquor sales shoot up. It is nothing but a mafia in the name of such celebrations; hence we oppose it," explained Muthalik, adding that his group was not against “love.” He said the Sene would circulate leaflets in hotels and other venues in the city warning against Valentine’s Day.

 

Reacting to the Sene’s plans, top police officials assured that the freedom of people to celebrate Valentine’s Day would be protected. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) S Ravi said his personnel were well networked. A detailed plan will be prepared for security during Valentine’s Day. "Based on credible information from vulnerable locations, our personnel will zero in on suspects and troublemakers during such events,” he said.

 

Apart from the deployment of 200 persons from the special crime wing who work undercover, police will also install 59 pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras in all critical junctions in Bengaluru soon.

 

City Police Commissioner Praveen Sood said that the police’s focus would shift to Valentine’s Day after completing arrangements for organising Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (January 9) and Republic Day (January 26). The Commissioner added that he had instructed officials to register suo moto cases in connection with New Year’s Eve molestation cases at Brigade Road and Kammanahalli, assuring the culprits would be caught soon.

 

T Narasimha Murthy, human rights activist and advocate, said people like Muthalik may disturb peace in the name of protecting culture, adding, "Anybody who violates the constitution should be dealt with by the law.” He declared people had the freedom of choice as long as they were not disturbing others and that such persons should not be harmed in the name of cultural and moral policing.

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