Sri Ram Sene men force lovers to tie Rakhi in Karnataka

As love-struck couples were seen celebrating Valentine's Day, right-wing Sri Rama Sene activists today allegedly forced lovers to tie 'rakhi' and compelled organisers of an event to cancel their programme.

About eight pairs of lovers were exchanging Valentine's day greetings at Purasiddeswara temple garden when about 20 Sene activists arrived. They asked them whether they were lovers.

Sensing trouble six pairs said they were not, but two had to face the ire of Sene men and bow to their diktat and tie rakhi (symbol of sibling relationship), police said.

The incident happened in the presence of a few policemen who had been deployed to keep vigil on Sene activists to ensure that they did not disrupt Valentine's day celebrations, according to reports reaching here.

In Bellary some Sene activists barged into a hotel where V-Day celebrations were about to begin but when the hotel owner assured them that the programme would be cancelled, they
retracted, they said.

However, at Anekal in Bangalore rural district, Sene men helped a pair, who were in love, to tie the knot after convincing members of both families. The lovers profusely thanked the Sene men for ensuring their marriage.