ISLAMABAD: Valentine’s Day events in several Indian cities were disrupted by incidents of moral policing, public intimidation and clashes involving right-wing Hindutva groups, according to local media reports and videos circulating online.
In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim gym trainer was assaulted and later hospitalized after activists belonging to the Bajrang Dal accused him of “love jihad,” alleging that he had concealed his identity while interacting with a Hindu woman during Valentine’s week.
According to media reports, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against the trainer rather than the alleged attackers, a move that sparked concern and tension in the area.
In Patna, Bihar, a viral video showed members of the Hindu Sena stopping couples in public places and forcing them to recite the Hanuman Chalisa. The incident drew criticism on social media, with users questioning the use of religious symbolism to publicly shame individuals.
Similar developments were reported in Surajpur, Chhattisgarh, where local groups allegedly issued warnings that workers would patrol the streets with sticks to deter Valentine’s Day celebrations.
Another incident was reported in Indore, in Madhya Pradesh, where a pre-Valentine’s event at the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies was disrupted when right-wing activists allegedly entered the campus, raised slogans and vandalized parts of the venue. Videos circulating online showed students retreating as police were called to restore order.
In Bhopal, MP, protests against the occasion included open threats of “lathi-force,” while in another widely shared clip, female activists warned of shaving heads and parading couples publicly, drawing sharp reactions from rights advocates.
Authorities in the affected areas have not issued comprehensive statements addressing the broader trend, though police intervention was reported in some cases to prevent escalation.
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