Love For Hate: Kolkata Youth Protest Beating Of Couple By Giving Free Hugs To Each Other Outside Metro Station

Youth in Kolkata protested outside Dum Dum Metro Station to show their solidarity for the couple who were recently thrashed by some middle-aged and elderly men for hugging inside a metro coach.

Concerned citizens at Tollygunge metro station spreading messages of peace&love aft a couple was beaten up by co-passengers a few days ago at Dum Dum metro station for hugging inside a metro train @CNNnews18 pic.twitter.com/TTdu4YjAxu

— Prema Rajaram (@prema_rajaram) May 2, 2018

"Hug is just a sign of affection", said the boy while offering 'free hugs' to people in Kolkata on Wednesday. It was part of a protest against the people who had reportedly beaten up a couple for hugging in the metro. #kolkatametro #kolkata #hugsinametro #hug
kolkata metro pic.twitter.com/nsVUYtcldl

— The বং Guy (@iamroysunny) May 2, 2018

Youths from across the city on Wednesday displayed placards with #FreeHug #Hokalingon or ‘Let’s embrace’ and hugged each other in protest against moral policing. More than 1,000 people including both men and women from various backgrounds participated in this protest, singing songs and playing various musical instruments.

Part1: Protests outside Tollygunge Metro station today to protest against an alleged moral policing incident inside a train compartment pic.twitter.com/ZunMRxM4IC

— Calcutta Times (@Calcutta_Times) May 2, 2018

One of the commuters told NDTV, “I am here because I strongly believe in love. Seeing others support and promote love is giving me strength. This is the Kolkata I grew up and want to live in. If I meet those attackers, I will give them a heartfelt hug and tell them not to be so angry.”

#HokAlingon: Youth hug to protest against Kolkata Metro moral policing https://t.co/J9hPCZAHSb pic.twitter.com/3yI06p836s

— Anuj Pandey (@qanuj) May 3, 2018

Eyewitness Ujjwal Chakraborty said that the couple were being harassed and asked humiliating questions – “Why aren’t you going to a pub on Park Street?” to “Why don’t you get a room?” reported Anandabazar Patrika.

The incident

A couple was beaten up for hugging in a metro coach on Monday, April 31 by some middle-aged men as they stepped down the train. Reportedly, CCTVs at the station could not capture the incident, but many spectators had shot videos of the assault by unidentified men and later circulated the same on social media.

“It came to the Metro’s notice only when a news report came out in a Bengali daily yesterday. We thoroughly checked the CCTV footage at Dumdum and found no clear evidence of an assault. The footage and the initial findings of the Railway Police Force (RPF) were shared with the Kolkata Police,” metro railway general manager Ajay Vijayvargiya said.

The Logical Indian community commends the peaceful protest staged by Kolkata youth. It is imperative that young people stand up to draconian mindsets and rules imposed upon them. It was wonderful to witness so many people come together to support the couple who were thrashed by people with degressive ideologies. Showing physical affection is not immoral, getting physical with those who show affection is.