Karnataka police cracked down on Sri Ram Rene outfit ahead of the Valentine's Day, arresting its chief and over 150 activists, yesterday.
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Pyar aur Takraar: Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik was arrested yesterday. Pic/AP |
Karnataka police cracked down on Sri Ram Rene outfit ahead of the Valentine's Day, arresting its chief and over 150 activists, yesterday. Theu00a0 right-wing group withdrew its protests against the celebration of the lovers' day after the arrests.
In a state-wide drive, the police took Muthalik into custody on the outskirts of Gulbarga, its co-convenor Prasad Attavar in Mangalore and more than 150 activists in Bangalore.
In Mangalore, Sene office bearers Subhash Padil (District convenor), Jeevan Neermarga (Rural Convenor), Lohith Adyan (Adyar unit convenor) were arrested soon after they addressed a press meet where they announced that they were dropping plans to "marry off couples forcefully."
"We have been opposing Valentine Day Celebrations for the last 10 years. But this year we will not do anything forcefully like arranging marriages of unmarried couples or tying rakhis, as announced earlier," Prasad said.
In Bangalore, police have nabbed more than 150 suspects and are continuing the arrests, besides deploying an 18,000 strong police force on security.
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"All pubs, bars and restaurants and even shops vending Valentine cards would get protection," City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari said.
