MNIK protest: Over 1200 Shiv Sainiks arrested

In a major crackdown,city police have arrested over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks ahead of the release of SRK's film.

In a major crackdown,city police have arrested over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks ahead of the release of Shah Rukh-Kajol starer ‘My Name Is Khan’ after the party stepped up its protest against the film over the actor’s IPL remarks. The 63 theatres across the city that would screen Karan Johan directed ‘My Name…’ have turned into fortresses with heavy deployment of police.

In the last 24 hours,over 1,200 Shiv Sainiks have been arrested. While 955 were arrested under the preventive action,the rest were put behind bars for different cases,including for protesting outside the theatres,vandalizing screens among others,said Ramesh Bagwe,Minister of State for Home said. The sena activists,including office bearers,were charged with rioting,damaging property,unlawful assembly and trespassing,police said. Some people roaming near Broadway cinema at suburban Borivali today were picked up on suspicion that they might cause trouble.

The Sena had threatened to stall the screening of the film,protesting Khan’s support for inclusion of Pakistani players in the upcoming IPL but party supreme Bal Thackeray had later said that the film’s release will not be disrupted. City police chief Sivanandan has issued guidelines to all the police stations regarding security arrangements. The constables deployed at cinema halls have been told to frisk every ticket-holder and check their bags. However,it is not mandatory for the viewers to show identity cards.

Story continues below this ad

Single-screen cinemas will be manned by a police sub-inspector,one constable,two women police constables and 5 plainclothes policemen. In the wake of the Sena intensifying protests against Khan,leaves of the city policemen have been cancelled. Yesterday,screens of Metro theatre in south Mumbai and Huma Cinema at Kanjurmarg were ripped off with sharp instruments like blade by the Sena workers who entered the halls as regular viewers by buying tickets,police said.

To further strengthen security,personnel from State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards will be deployed at thetheatres across the city where the movie is scheduled to be released on February 12,they said. Karan Johar,director and co-producer of ‘My Name is Khan’ yesterday met Police Commissioner D Sivanandhan to discuss security issues ahead of the movie’s release.

Meanwhile,a very tight security cordon had been thrown around actors Shah Rukh Khan,Kajol and director Karan Johar as they left together from Mumbai airport for Abu Dhabi to be present at the special premiere of the film being held there.

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.