Silchar, Feb. 14: Self-proclaimed "protectors of Indian culture" sprang into action on the streets of Silchar today and tormented couples and shopkeepers celebrating Valentine's Day.

Groups of men, claiming to be Bajrang Dal activists, ransacked a flower shop in the heart of the town and harassed couples at several restaurants and eateries today. The incidents came after the Cachar district committee of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) issued a diktat on Friday asking youths to refrain from celebrating Valentine's Day.

Gautam Chakraborty, Cachar district convener of Bajrang Dal, denied their involvement in any of the attacks that took place in Silchar today.

Dipankar Ghosh, the owner of Calcutta Flower Decorator, located at Central Road, told The Telegraph that a group of 10-15 men came to his shop in the morning and told him not to sell red roses today.

Some motor-cycle borne youths returned around 12.30pm and vandalised the shop after finding red roses.

"Soon after they gave me the threat, I stopped selling red roses and kept all the roses under a cover. But, they again came back after few hours and searched my shop. When they found the roses under the cover, they started abusing us and ransacked the shop. They took away all the roses from my shop and threw other varieties of flowers on the road," Ghosh said.

The shopkeeper claimed he suffered a loss of Rs 1 lakh. "Most of the roses were of the Bangalore and Himachal varieties. These roses are very expensive," Ghosh said.

This wasn't the first time Ghosh faced trouble for selling roses.

"Twelve years back, a similar group of people chanting 'jai shri Ram' vandalised my shop. I was ruined. Today's incident reminded me of that incident. I don't understand what my fault is. Is selling roses, which symbolise love, a crime in this country?" he asked.

Members of the saffron brigade also reportedly raided a host of restaurants and harassed couples. Some restaurant owners were also threatened and asked not to serve couples.

At a news conference here on Friday, the Cachar district committee of the VHP had warned that they would keep an eye on hotels and restaurants on Valentine's Day and not spare anyone if they found anything "obscene".

Today's incidents faced flak from different quarters. Chandrima Dutta, a well-known poet and litterateur, vociferously condemned the attacks. "A person who really wants to give a red rose to his partner on Valentine's Day, he will definitely give it. By ransacking a flower shop, they can't stop one from loving his or her partner," she said.

Neharul Islam Barbhuiya, secretary of Barak Human Rights Protection Committee, said the police should have been more proactive.

"Every year Bajrang Dal carries out such activities in the town and, therefore, the police should have been a bit alert today to avert such incidents. Now, the administration should compensate the owner of the flower shop. It was a crime and the police should take action against the guilty involved in the attack."

Assam PCC spokesperson Depan Dewanjee called for a probe. "Such incidents had taken place in the past and thus the police should have been more active today. We condemn the barbaric incidents by Bajrang Dal members in Silchar town," he said.

Olivia Mazumder, a student, said hate cannot triumph over love.

"There were attempts in the past and the process still continues in the present, to suppress love. They need education. Hate can never win over love," she said.