Delhi, India
As Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum-opus Padmaavat is all set to hit theatres on January 25, violence erupted in several parts of the country with buses being torched and cinema halls being vandalised.
As tension intensified, protesters pelted stones & burnt several buses in Gurugram's Sohna Road on Wednesday. Several fringe groups are against the screening of the film and demanded a complete ban despite Supreme court giving it a go-ahead order.
In the light of agitation, all clubs and bars in Gurugram have been ordered to be closed from 7 pm on 24th January. They have been asked to remain closed till further order are passed.
A group of protestors reportedly pelted stones at a bus belonging to GD Goenka School, which was ferrying children at the time of the incident, near Bhondsi, breaking the vehicle's windows. It was unclear if anyone was wounded in the incident.
Haryana: A school bus attacked by vandals protesting against release of #Padmavaat in #Gurugram (Pictures from User Video) pic.twitter.com/rAQTPJaILD
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
If all state govts, central govt and SC together cannot get one movie released and run safely, how can we expect investments to flow in? Forget FDI, even local investors wud feel hesitant. Not gud for already dwindling economy. Bad for jobs
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 24, 2018
Security has been beefed up and efforts are underway to nab the unidentified miscreants to bring the situation under control.
#Visuals from Haryana: Protesters pelted stones & torched a bus at #Gurugram's Sohna Road in protest against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/I7Bb4DHuxW
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
Haryana: Protesters torched a bus & pelted stones at #Gurugram's Sohna Road in protest against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/YyoOjvH7Qc
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
8-10 masked men had come to pelt stones at PVS mall. Police is on the lookout for the men. We will provide security to the mall at the time of screening of the film: Chakrapani Tripathi, Circle Officer, Civil Lines #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/r5KOrR112U
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 24, 2018
Today in Meerut stones were pelted at PVS mall allegedly in protest of Padmaavat.
Meerut: Stones pelted at PVS mall allegedly in protest against #Padmaavat. Police deployed on the spot, investigation underway. pic.twitter.com/WmmaZG5K1V
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 24, 2018
Media reported Gujarat gripped by protests as mobs went on a rampage in Ahmedabad vandalising vehicles and attacking multiplexes.
Protesters block Gurgaon's Wazirpur-Pataudi road agitating against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/CpzSJ7SEj5
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
According to reports, the 7-century Chittor fort in Rajasthan has been shut down in the wake of prevailing tensions.
Rajasthan: Security heightened in Chittorgarh ahead of release of film #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/lzBlxigdtb
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
The UNESCO heritage site was shut after members from the Karni Sena group tried entering it.
Protesters block Delhi-Jaipur highway agitating against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/mh0xJevZbg
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2018
Padmaavat's release in Rajasthan looks uncertain even after the Supreme Court stayed the ban. The film distributors here look reluctant to release the film.
The Supreme Court yesterday rejected Rajasthan's final appeal to ban Padmaavat and ordered the government to screen the film.
Protest against #Padmavaat in Mathura, protesters stop train at Bhuteshwar railway station pic.twitter.com/UlEPjUZ4yz
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 24, 2018
According to a Reuters report, right-wing protests have intensified all across the country amid beefed-up security.
"The police had to open fire to disperse crowds in Ahmadabad on Tuesday night. Protests are expected to continue in various parts of the country ahead of the release of the film on January 25," noted Reuters.
Chhattisgarh also saw at least dozens of members of Rajput community staging protests on Tuesday evening.
Also read: Padmaavat review: Ranveer Singh shines in Bhansali's visually grand historical saga
Lucknow: Security tightened outside Wave cinemas in the wake of protests against #Padmaavat pic.twitter.com/N7jB5g7Gwk
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) January 24, 2018
So far, over 100 Karni Sena and other Rajput workers have been detained in Mumbai.
Gurgaon and Noida have imposed Section 144 prohibiting the assembly of more than four people.
Meanwhile, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar noted that it will be better if theatres do not screen the film, however, they will be provided with security if they choose to go ahead with the release.
Police are also keeping a watch on social media and WhatsApp groups.
(With inputs from agencies)