Mangalore: Lovers Day - Valentines Nowhere, Policemen Everywhere!
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SP)
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Mangalore, Feb 14: Till afternoon, pubs and restuarants in the city wore a deserted look, with no signs of any Valentine's Day celebrations. Pairs of lovers were conspicuous by their absence from parks and other sought-after hot spots.
The lovers who would have been eagerly awaiting to celebrate Valentine's Day, were found missing from their popular locations. For some reasons, they seemed to have decided to stay away from the public glare, despite an assurance of security given by the state government and the police.
The police have strengthened vigilance in strategic spots. The city has remained elusive to Valentine's Day celebrations and the policemen alone are seen at the places where one expected to see the Valentines.
Kadri Park, which is the hot- spot for the lovers, was devoid of any visitors and the policemen posted there to avert any untoward incidents, confessed that no Valentines had come to the park till the afternoon.
Malls in city are also experiencing a dearth in the number of customers and couples. This has also been the experience of restaurants, pubs and other eating joints here.
The district police department has deployed additional police personnel in the city in view of the threat perception from groups that are opposed to the celebration of the Day . Policemen in civilian clothes have also been fanned around the city to collect information about the brewing trouble, if any.
The citizens of the city are engaged in their daily routine and are not unduly perturbed, as the situation continues to be normal in spite of heavy police presence.
Policemen have also been deployed at Panambur and Ullal-Someshwar beaches near the city and both the beaches did not see any activity, as young suitors seem to have opted to stay away from them because of apprehensions of being targetted.
Till the afternoon, police stations from around the city said they have not received reports of any disturbances or unsavoury incidents so far.
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