Watch: From Gurugram to Mumbai, violent protests rock cities ahead of Padmaavat release
Watch: Violent protests across country ahead of Padmaavat's release
The 7-century Chittor fort in Rajasthan has been shut down in the wake of prevailing tensions
As Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum-opusPadmaavat is all set to hit theatres on January25, 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 againstthe screening of the film and demanded a complete ban despite Supreme court giving it a go-ahead order.
In the light of agitation, all clubsand bars in Gurugram have been ordered to be closed from 7 pm on 24th January. They have been asked to remain closedtill 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.
Security has been beefed up and efforts are underway to nab the unidentified miscreants to bring the situation under control.
Today in Meerut stones were pelted at PVS mall allegedly in protest of Padmaavat.
Media reported Gujarat gripped by protests as mobs went on a rampage in Ahmedabad vandalising vehicles and attacking multiplexes.
According to reports, the 7-century Chittor fort in Rajasthan has been shut down in the wake of prevailing tensions.
The UNESCO heritage site was shut after members from the Karni Sena group tried entering it.
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.
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.
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)