Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists married off 9 couples in Hyderabad on Valentines Day yesterday, while 9 other couples were lucky enough to go scot free. The youth wing of VHP counselled the nine couples and sent them home.

Over all, the Valentines Day passed off peacefully in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. No where 'Ram Sena' type incidents were reported. It was the heavy polkice bandobust that prevented the overzealous saffron brigade from going physical this year. The VHP claimed that three couples were “married” in Moinabad. The first of the lovebirds were caught at a park whereas the others were caught at a bus-stop near Swami Narayan Gurukul. Five couples who ventured to the Sanghi temple were forced to tie the knot there itself. Similarly, a couple were married at Amberpet.

The Bajrang Dal activists got into the act right from the word go in the morning. They divided themselves into eight batches of 35 members each and spread across the city. Dharnas were staged at the Paradise Circle, ECIL X Roads and Shamshabad X Roads. About 45 volunteers, consisting of eight state level leaders, were arrested by the police. Among those arrested were MN Singh, state joint secretary, VHP, Yemen Singh, state secretary, Bajrang Dal, Shyam, convenor Bajrang Dal, Hindinagar, Narender, co-convenor, Hindinagar and convenors Brahman and Brijanand, according to Bharat Vamshi, convener, Greater Hyderabad, Bajrang Dal.

The police, on the other hand, denied that the saffron brigade had a field day. Tarun Joshi, DCP, Central Zone said, "We haven't had any complaints of harassment or any such thing in the central zone. We have our teams deployed at various educational institutions, gift stores, parks and other hang-out places on the Necklace Road like the Eat Street. Our groups have been patrolling the areas and no places have been shut down. No Bajrang Dal volunteers were arrested either."