Padmavat : Violence in Ahmedabad ahead of release, high alert in three states
Ahmedabad, Jan 24 (IBNS) : Barely 36 hours before the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's controversial movie Padmavat, protesters ran amok on Tuesday evening, triggering violence in Gujarat even though a high alert was sounded and security tightened in three states of north and western India, media reports said.
According to reports, violence broke out in Ahmedabad where about 2,000 Rajput Karni Sena, who have been spearheading a violent movement against the film's release, vandalised three shopping malls and torched about 25 vehicles parked outside.
The miscreants also pelted stones and tried to set ablaze the vehicles outside some multiplexes.
Reports of violent protests also came in from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, where a group of people burnt the effigy, of Bhansali.
The reports said security has been increased outside theatres in parts of Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan as those opposing the period film have vowed to block it in defiance of the Supreme Court order.
The film will be released on Thursday (January 25) in various theatres of the country.
Groups critical of the project have accused its director of distorting history by portraying a Muslim ruler as the "lover" of Queen Padmavati of the Hindu Rajput warrior clan. However, the makers of the film have denied it.
A Gurugram report said the district administration has enforced Section 144 near multiplexes, cinema halls and malls till Sunday.
The Gurugram police officials have also stepped up security measures outside multiplexes and cinema halls.
In Uttar Pradesh, members of some rightwing organisations have reportedly been personally approaching managers of cinema halls threatening them not to show this film.
In Agra, anonymous calls received by the manager of Sanjay Talkies threatened to blow up the theatre if it screened the movie.
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