Karni Sena holds India hostage

Chaos reigned as Shree Rajput Karni Sena supporters resorted to violent protests across the country, a day before the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Padmavaat. Despite prohibitory orders, locals watched helplessly as both terrified teachers and students riding in a school bus belonging to the GD Goenka school in Gurugram ducked as Karni Sena protesters hurled stones at the bus on the Sohna Road on Wednesday. The attack came after protesters had burnt down a state-run bus that was next to the school bus.

The attacks on the buses came even as Gurugram police stated that security had been intensified around all multiplexes in the city. Police officials also stated that life would continue as normal and adequate patrolling was being done.       

"We have already imposed (prohibitory orders under) Section 144 of the CrPC in the city but have not directed pubs and bars to shut. All pubs and bars will remain open. The police are undertaking adequate patrolling," Gurugram's Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh was quoted as saying by PTI, urging the public to remain calm.

Meanwhile in Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Multiplex Owners Association stated that Padmavaat would not be screened in any multiplex or single screen in the state till the row over the film was resolved. Earlier, a mob estimated estimated at around 2,000 people went on the rampage targeting three multiplexes in the city. The association said the decision had been taken for the safety of customers as well as to protect their property.

Following the statement by the association, chaos continued as several leaders of various Rajput community organisations, including Raj Shekhawat, president of Karni Sena in Gujarat, said that since Padmaavat is not going to be screened, it is no more an issue and there would be no bandh. Mahakal Sena and other outfits also assured that they would not take part in the bandh and the government said that schools and colleges would function as usual in the state. However, later, Arjunsinh Gohil, president of Rajput Karni Sena said that the bandh was to go on as planned.

Meanwhile, Gujarat's DGP Pramod Kumar said that adequate security arrangements have been made in the state to avoid any flare ups on Thursday. "Eighteen companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed at different places across the state as a precautionary measure while over 800 vehicles would be deployed for surveillance," he said.

While Mumbai witnessed relative calm, nearby Pune saw an outbreak of violence, as protesters disrupted traffic movement on the Mumbai-Bengaluru national highway and damaged some vehicles on Tuesday night. Assistant police inspector Machhindra Nagargoje of Sinhgad police station said, "The protesters damaged some vehicles and tyres of some vehicles were deflated. They were holding saffron flags and shouting slogans against the movie. We have arrested 15 protesters and the search for the others is on."

In the evening, security was tightened further in the wake of the film releasing on Thursday, but protests against the film showed no signs of ending. In Jammu, reports came in of a group of men who tried to vandalise a cinema theater and set it on fire in protest. Though the incident was reported as a one-off in the state, anger against the film showed no signs of colling down.

At a press conference in Jaipur, Karni Sena chief patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi insisted that a "janta curfew" would be imposed on theatres screening the movie. Denying rumours that some Karni Sena members had already seen the film, He also sought to pin the blame for the widespread violence, on Bhansali.

"January 25 (the film's release) may come and go but we won't let the film release, come what may," he said.