Over 1600 Shiv Sainiks detained for protesting against 'My Name Is Khan'

In a crackdown against Shiv Sena, over 1600 of its activists were detained ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer My Name Is Khan even as theatre owners here suspended advance bookings fearing violence.

The Sena stepped up its protest over Khan's remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the upcoming IPL. In the last few days, the Sena activists have targeted 10 cinema halls in the city, removing posters, disfiguring hoardings and vandalising screens.

"In the last 24 hours, a total of 1,023 Sainiks have detained. While 955 were picked up as a preventive step, the rest were taken in on different charges, including protesting outside theatres and vandalising screens," police said.

Some of the cinema halls in the city closed bookings of the movie after Sena activists attacked theatres in Mulund and Ghatkopar area on Tuesday.

"We have closed the bookings of the film at all our properties in Mumbai since yesterday due to the Shiv Sena threat of disrupting the screenings," sources at Cinemax multiplex said.

Both Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and police commissioner D Sivanandhan have held out the assurance of a smooth release of the film on Friday.

Tight security has been provided to 63 theatres across the city. Guidelines have also been issued to all police stations by the city police chief regarding security arrangements.