Padmaavat row: 18 arrested for attack on school bus in Gurugram

A day after violent attacks were witnessed on Wednesday by the Karni Sena members in the wake of steaming protests against the release of Padmaavat, areas like Gurugram, Sohna and Bhondsi, especially those with multiplexes and theatres screening the movie on Thursday, were turned into a fortress. Paramilitary, Rapid Action Force and the state police kept a strict vigil to main law and order, senior officers claimed.

Police also said that of the 18 people, arrested for torching the state roadways bus and vandalising a school bus on Wednesday, 8 are juveniles. "31 agitators have been arrested. 18 of these were from Bhondsi area while five are from Kherki Daula," said Ravinder, PRO, Gurugram Police.

On Thursday, areas, where violence was reported on Wednesday, were almost turned into a cantonment with heavy deployment of cops. Cops in civil dress as well as in uniform were deployed inside the theatres so that no religious sloganeering or ruckus is created. Before entry, the visitors were also thoroughly checked as a precautionary measure.

When DNA visited some of the cinema halls, they were found not endorsing the movie with huge posters.

Talking about the violence, the PRO said, "Yesterday, a roadways bus was set ablaze and miscreants also pelted stones at a school bus in Bhondsi. Police rushed to the spot immediately and controlled the situation. We have registered a case against hooligans," he said, adding that 18 agitators were arrested.

Police have also recovered objectionable materials from their possession. On Thursday, all accused were produced before the Sohna Court.

"Strenuous efforts are being made to arrest the remaining miscreants who were involved in the incidents. Gurugram Police is ready to avoid any untoward incident," the officer claimed.

Even those who had come to watch the first-day, first show of the controversial movie, said that they did not find anything objectionable that could have instigated protests. "It is a nice movie. I am a Rajput and I did not find anything that would hurt sentiments of a particular community. I think protesters should first watch the movie and then protest if they want to," said Shubham Kumar, who works at a private company.

INSIDE CINEMAS TOO

• Multiplexes and theatres screening ‘Padmaavat’ turned into a fortress on Thursday
   
• Cops in civil dress as well as in uniform were deployed inside the theatres as well.