Indo-Asian News Service
Bhopal, December 17, 2006
Activists of the Bajrang Dal have warned young
couples in Bhopal against meeting in public
places or be ready to be punished.
Resorting to so-called moral policing, Bajrang
Dal members raided Manuabhan Ki Tekri - a picnic
spot in Bhopal - that also has a Jain temple
within its premises and made young couples do
sit-ups for indulging in actions against the
"culture of our country".
Though the incident took place on Thursday,
it came to light on Saturday when a regional
news channel showed clips of couples being subjected
to 'punishment'.
The Bajrang Dal has now warned of intensifying
their movement against what they call "obscenity".
"Bajrang Dal will not tolerate any obscenity
at places of religious importance. We took action
after we found them in a compromising position
and we will continue to take action against
such activities," Vishal Purohit, a Bajrang
Dal leader, said.
The hardline Hindu group, however, says it was
forced to resort to extreme action since the
police had failed to check such "indecent"
acts.
"We were compelled to take the law into
our hands after police took no steps against
our complaints regarding obscenity in public
places. We once again urge that police personnel
be deployed at religious shrines to curb the
display of such obscenity," Purohit said.
Said Superintendent of Police AK Singh: "No
one has made any complaint in this connection.
We will act if we get a complaint from anyone."
In the past few years, Bajrang Dal has disrupted
Valentine's Day celebrations by vandalising
gift shops and burning hundreds of cards.
