Ahmedabad police on toes; additional security, including platoons of SRP, deployed at city theatres
In view of the raging violence over the release of the movie Padmaavat, the city police have ordered deployment of additional security forces, including platoons of State Reserve Police (SRP), at theatres and multiplexes.
Karni Sena and a number of other Rajput organisations are protesting against Padmaavat, claiming that the film distorts history and shows Rani Padmavati in poor light. The protests are continuing, and have in fact intensified, with January 25, the release date, approaching. On Sunday, protesters blocked roads at many places and even set fire to buses at a few places.
The police commissioner's office said in a circular that the additional security forces were being deployed to ensure security and to maintain law & order at the cinema halls screening Padmaavat. It cited the opposition to the movie by certain groups which were resorting to blocking roads and other means of protest against the opposition.
The circular said that one PSI and one SRP platoon have been deployed at seven theatres and multiplexes that are going to release Padmaavat. They include Cinepolis Cinema in Alpha One, Drive-In Cinema, Acropolis Cinema, Himalaya Mall, K Sera Sera Cineplex, Mukta Cinema (Gulmohar Mall) and Cinemax PVR (Dev Arc Mall).
The circular said that the additional forces, including one SRP platoon each, would also be deployed at three other three multiplexes and theatres, which were yet to decide regarding screening the movie. They include Rajhans Cinema and PVR Red Carpet (both in Sola), and City Gold (Ambli-Bopal Road). On Sunday, state DGP Pramod Kumar had assured security to theatres and multiplexes that screen the movie, while also issuing a stern warning to the violators. He said that police would follow the course of law and take action against anyone trying to disturb law and order.
City commissioner of police AK Singh also issued a notification on Sunday warning that people creating law and order issues at cinema halls would be booked under Section 308 of the Indian Penal Code, i.e. for an attempt to culpable homicide. Last week, a number of theatres and multiplexes announced that they would not be screening the Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie fearing violence, and the safety of their property and the viewers. Many of them are unlikely to screen the movie even after the police's assurance.
FALLING IN LINE
- City commissioner of police AK Singh issued a notification on Sunday warning that people creating law and order problems at cinema halls would be booked under charges of attempt to culpable homicide, i.e. Section 308 of IPC.
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