Patna, February 14: Valentine's Day celebrations encountered resistance in Patna on Friday, as members of a local organization protested against couples in public spaces and distributed copies of the Hanuman Chalisa.

Activists of the Hindu Shiv Bhavani Sena were seen targeting couples at several locations, especially at Buddha Smriti Park near Patna Junction railway station. The group allegedly urged couples to disperse and handed out Hanuman Chalisa booklets to young men, asserting that Valentine's Day conflicts with Indian cultural values.

The protestors criticized the occasion for allegedly promoting obscenity and reiterated their stance against such celebrations, vowing to continue their opposition in the future. Warning posters about Valentine's Day were also seen in various areas of the city.

Luv Kumar Shiv Rudra, National President of the Hindu Shiv Bhavani Sena, spoke to the media, stating that the group's members were closely monitoring parks and public spaces across Patna and Bihar. He claimed that their actions were aimed at preventing what they called "love jihad" and obscenity, and that couples were being encouraged to recite the Hanuman Chalisa instead of engaging in Valentine's Day festivities.

Additionally, the organization proposed that February 14 should be commemorated as a day to honor the Pulwama martyrs, rather than celebrating Valentine's Day.

In response to the protests and the appearance of the posters, the police in Patna heightened security measures to avoid any potential disruptions to public order. Senior police officials confirmed that no individual or group would be permitted to take the law into their own hands.

Authorities issued a stern warning, stating that harassment or intimidation of people in public places would result in severe legal consequences. The police reiterated that maintaining peace and order was their foremost priority, and anyone caught disrupting the tranquility or unlawfully targeting individuals would face firm action.