NEW DELHI – Violence and arson hit Ahmedabad on Tuesday night shortly aftera candle march by Karni Sena activists against the January 25 release ofcontroversial Bollywood filmlink>Padmaavat.
More than 150 four-wheelers and two-wheelers were damaged as mobs went onthe rampage after 8pm, targeting three malls with multiplexes and astandalone theatre complex in the western part of the city.
Karni Sena’s Gujarat unit chief Raj Shekhwat said their activists hadnothing to do with the vandalism. “The violence is condemnable. Karni Senais not involved in the incidents,” he added.
Three city malls — Acropolis, Ahmedabad One, Himalaya Mall — and Cinemex,the standalone theatre complex, came under attack despite theatre owners inthe city declaring they would not screen Padmaavat.
Windows of four-wheelers parked outside were smashed and two-wheelers wereset on fire.
Flames billowed near the entrance of Acropolis and Himalaya Mall well past10pm.
“Those inside the malls and theatres were safely evacuated. No one wasreported injured,” said a senior police officer who did not want to benamed. “Our priority was to take control of the situation, which was done.Next, we will conduct an investigation and book the miscreants.”
Deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said, “The government has made an appealfor peace. Action will be taken against lawbreakers.” Patel added, “The(Gujarat) government had put a ban on the release, but following the SCverdict, its screening cannot be stopped. However, the theatre owners hadvoluntarily declared not to screen the movie.”
Several states braced to deal with law and order problems over the film’srelease.
In Gurgaonlink>,the district administration enforced prohibitory orders till Sunday tomaintain law and order situation. There are over 40 multiplexes and cinemahalls in Gurgaon.
Gurgaon deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh said, “Section 144 of theCrPC has been imposed in view of release of the ‘Padmaavat’ in variouscinema halls and multiplexes on January 25 as there is likelihood of lawand order disturbance.”
“Following imposition of Section 144, there is prohibition on presence ofpeople carrying firearms and other articles capable of causing injury,raising slogans and exhibiting placards within 200 meters radius of thecinema halls and multiplexes from January 23 to January 28,” Singh said.
Rajasthan said extra forces would be deployed for the film’s release.Uttarakhand said theatres screening the movie would be provided security.
“Now, we have no other alternative but to ensure law and order… and thatwe will do,” said Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria.
The state’s additional director general of police (law and order), NRKReddy, said all district superintendents of police had been asked to remainalert. “The challenge for the police will be to deal with issues arisingout of Padmaavat’s release, Republic Day and the five-day long JaipurLiterature Festival starting from January 25,” he added.
The censor board cleared the movie in December-end after a name change —from the earlier Padmavati — but caste groups, led by the Shri Rajput KarniSena, are not satisfied.
Hours after the SC refused to reinstate the ban, Karni Sena patron LokendraSingh Kalvi reiterated his threat of a janta (public) curfew if the filmwas released. “It is disheartening to know that the Supreme Court hasn’trespected public sentiment,” he said.
The Karni Sena named a six-member panel comprising erstwhile royals, andhistorians to watch the film ahead of its releaselink>,reported PTI. The Karni Sena responded to a letter by Bhansali Productionsand disclosed the panel would watch the film before its release, asproposed by the filmmakers.
Historians RS Khangarot, BL Gupta, Kapil Kumar, Roshan Sharma and erstwhileMewar royal family member Vishwaraj Singh, and erstwhile Banswara royalfamily member Jagmal Singh are on the panel, said the Karni Sena.