Padmaavat protest: Mob goes on rampage in Ahmedabad; 10 arrested, police fire in air

Mobs went on a rampage on Tuesday evening setting fire to vehicles outside theatres and pelting stones at shops and malls in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. 

The police fired two rounds in the air to disperse the mob outside Himalaya Mall.

Around 10 persons have been arrested so far for inciting violence, confirmed Gujarat's Minister of State (MoS) for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja.

Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said that strong instructions have been issued to police to take strict action against those indulged in the violence.

The mob was earlier believed to be members of the Rajput Karni Sena. However, Rajput Karni Sena's leader Lokendra Singh denied the group's involvement in the incident and condemned the violence saying it was 'sad'. 

Karni Sena had earlier issued chilling warning against screening the movie in theatres. "We are confident that no cinema hall will screen the film. If someone does they should be ready to bear the consequences. Consider it a warning or request," a Karni Sena member was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Eye witnesses said initially police did not take any action against the mob making a mockery of the state government's earlier promise that they would provide protection to theatres that wanted to screen the movie Padmavat.

"The cops just followed the mob. A fire brigade also followed them trying to douse the fire but no one tried to control the mob," said an eyewitness.

Interestingly, the mob went berserk after what started out as an alleged 'peaceful' candle march against screening of the movie Padmavat. 

The March began at Iskcon cross roads and soon the mob turned violent and began pelting stones at theatres near Iskcon. The first to be targeted was Gulmohar which saw some stone pelting before the crowd moved to Acropolis mall. Here they set fire to over 15 vehicles parked outside. 

Interestingly, the 'peace' march ended up blocking one side of the busy SG highway thus leading to further traffic jams in arterial roads connecting to the highway.

The mob them moved to Himalaya Mall in Drive-In where they are believed to have set fire to over 15 vehicles and ransacked several shops. Some restaurants and shops downed their shutters to prevent customers from being attacked. 

The mob then moved to Ahmedabad one (Alpha One) mall burning some more vehicles before the cops shut down the mall. The mob also ransacked two dozen vehicles outside residential societies near the mall in Vastrapur.

Some of the theatres that were targeted (for eg PVR in Acropolis Mall) had already voluntarily decided not to screen the movie.

In Surat, police arrested 57 people having links with Karni Sena and related outfits in connection to Sunday's incidents related to burning of tyres and pelting of stones on buses.

Surat commissioner of police Satish Sharma warned that the troublemakers would not be spared. He also assured full security to theatres willing to screen the movie.

The period drama has run into trouble time and again, as members of several Rajput factions have accused the director of the film, Bhansali of distorting historical facts. Starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles, the film is all set to release on January 25.