Bhubaneswar: In spite of the assurance from the police Commisonerate, couples in the city might have to be on alert on Valentine Day as the Kalinga Sena are getting ready to be active on the day for catching love birds at parks ad malls.
The president of Kalinga Sena women wing, Binati Mohanty, said that they had launched a drive against couples in the city. She asserted that the couples found indulging in indecent behavior, will be presented with branches of the Indian stinging nettle (Bicchuati). Around 200 students of seven colleges are ready to be deployed by the outfit for this purpose.
Mohanty also urged Odisha DGP RP Sharma and Twin City Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty to shut down all malls and parks in Bhubaneswar on Valentine’s Day to check such couples who are “spoiling Indian culture.”
Earlier, the Twin City Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty had assured that the love-birds of the city will be safe from harassment and moral policing on Valentine’s Day.
Mohanty said that they had made adequate security arrangements to protect the couples from any case of harassment. He said, “I can’t guarantee protection to each and everyone. But, we won’t allow anyone to harass the couples. We won’t tolerate incidents of harassment with anyone on Valentine’s Day celebrations. If such incidents come to our notice, we will take action. We will be deploying our PCR vans on patrol.”
Reports also stated that cops in civil attire will be deployed at popular parks and hangout spots of the city to avoid any untoward incident. Many saffron outfits had been creating a ruckus over the past years on V-Day to check young couples who are allegedly becoming increasingly Western and are spoiling Indian culture.
“If the couple is does not engage in indecency and is acting responsibly, then protection will definitely be given to them,” the top cop assured.
Meanwhile, the city couples are gearing up to celebrate the day in their own way. Soumya Mohanty, a youth, said they already know that parks would be closed for the day so he plans to celebrate it at city café or a restaurant.
Rains are predicted on Valentine’s Day which may alter my plans,” said Sanjay Panda who believes there is no specific day for love.
