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But it went horribly wrong when policemen on Tuesday slapped, screamed and shoved unsuspecting couples who were taking in the sun at a city park.
By evening, this brutal footage of unprovoked police violence was flashed across TV screens (first by CNN-IBN) to an incredulous nation. The repercussions were swift; two policemen were suspended and one of the couples, embarrased and humiliated, has gone underground.
Said, J K Sharma, the father of the missing boy: "My son and the girl came home yesterday. They were crying because they had been humiliated. The girl refused to go home because she had been slapped on camera. After we convinced her to return home my son went along to drop her. Since then both of them are missing."
Now hundreds of angry college students across Meerut have taken to the streets, flagging off widespread protests around the city and demanding action against the police officers involved in the incident, which they described as shocking and embarrassing.
On Wednesday morning students burned effigies, shouted slogans and said they planned to stage a dharna near the venue (the park where the incident occured) later in the day.
"We've burnt the effigy of the SSP today. If he is not suspended by tomorrow, we will start a road block," violent protesters said.
"The police's behaviour was very unjustified and wrong. They started beating people without any reason. They did not even wait to find out if the couples were married or friends or brother and sister," another said, adding, "A similar incident has happened before too with the police behaving in a similar manner."
Meanwhile, police officials who have clearly been caught on a backfoot have wisely chosen to stay away from the spot where Tuesday's incident occured.
Chairman of the National Commission for Women (NCW) Girija Vyas has sent a show-cause to the Director General of UP Police, Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of UP.
Vyas will also meet Congress Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the issue.
According to IBN sources, local Congress MPs are said to be extremely upset about the matter.
An enquiry will also be conducted by the SSP of Meerut.
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