Padmaavat | Water cannons, paramilitary forces deployed outside south Delhi's Select City Walk

Even as the Karni Sena continues to protest against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama Padmaavat, paramilitary forces were deployed outside south Delhi’s Select City Walk to protect the movie goers from the fringe fury.

Apart from security men outside the road approaching the mall in Saket area, many men in uniform are also keep a close vigil inside the cinema hall. Water cannons were also stationed to tackle any untoward incident. 

Police sources claimed that a senior leader of the Karni Sena was detained last night from his residence. 

The stringent measures come a day after some anti-Padmaavat protesters damaged cars outside Prashant Vihar mall. Over 100 people were detained by police on Wednesday.  The police said these protesters were planning to march towards a multiplex in Prashant Vihar, when some of them were detained a few metres away from the multiplex.

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Gurugram, a multiplex cancelled the morning show anticipating violence by the protesters. 

Taking a dig at the Centre, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had yesterday tweeted that, 'If all state governments, Centre and the SC together cannot get one movie released and run safely, how can we expect investments to flow in? (sic).' 

The Supreme Court earlier this month paved the way for all-India release of 'Padmaavat' and stayed notifications and orders issued by Rajasthan and Gujarat prohibiting exhibition of the film. The apex court had also restrained other states from issuing such notifications and orders.

The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in lead roles, was previously slated for release on December 1, but it had to be postponed as the makers had not got a certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) till then.

The film is based on the saga of the historic 13th century battle between Maharaja Ratan Singh and his army of Mewar and Sultan Alauddin Khilji of Delhi. 

(With agency inputs)