CUPID STRIKES: A couple sharing solitary moments at Necklace Road on Tuesday. — PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Threats of protests from organisations like the Bajrang Dal failed to dampen spirit of youngsters as Valentine's Day was celebrated with exchange of flowers, cards and sweets in the city on Tuesday.

The Punjagutta police took three dal activists into custody when they tried to create trouble at Hyderabad Central mall.

Inspector James Diwakar said that a group of dal activists tried to forcibly enter the mall and pull down the decorative material.

A petty case was booked against the trio — Raghu, Prashant and Avinash.

Another group went to a greeting cards shop in Life Style building at Begumpet and damaged the decoration by bursting balloons. However, the protestors fled the spot when the police descended there.

Greeting cards burnt

One more group of youngsters barged into a cards shop at Dilsukhnagar, collected the cards, came to Rajeev Chowk of the area and burnt them.

The police said that they were not sure of which association the group belonged to. Shop owner, too, did not lodge a complaint.

Some activists of the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) came out in a procession from People's Plaza on Necklace Road protesting against celebration of the day.

Icing on the cake?

The Ramgopalpet police intercepted the rally and dispersed it saying prior permission was not taken for it.

Bajrang Dal Bhagyanagar Pramukh P. Pratap said that his activists went around the city to perform marriage of couples seen celebrating Valentine's Day as earlier announced by them.

"But, we haven't come across any such couples," he said.

But, the marriage of couple — Srikanth and Vaasanti — both hailing from Secunderabad was performed at the Bajrang Dal's office as they sought the organisation's help saying that their parents were objecting to their marriage.

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