Over 1600 Shiv Sena activists were today arrested ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan starrer 'My Name Is Khan' as the Maharashtra government beefed up security enabling theatre owners to re-open advance bookings.
Some of cinema halls in the city had suspended advance bookings after Sena activists targeted them. But they decided to restart bookings after the Maharashtra government increased security and issued fresh guidelines.
"So far, 1600 have been arrested approximately...Many of them have been remanded to judicial custody up to February 12 and some to police custody up to February 15," Joint Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy told reporters here.
The Sena activists, including office bearers, were charged with rioting, damaging property, unlawful assembly and trespassing, police said. Police also picked up some from near Broadway cinema at suburban Borivali.
The Sena is demanding that Khan apologise for supporting inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the upcoming IPL but the actor has refused to do so, saying his comments were not anti-national and there is nothing to retract.
Under the new guidelines to the theatre owners, the first three rows will be kept empty to prevent miscreants from damaging the screens.
"Also, we are thinking of deploying some cameras in select theatres and police men in uniform as well as plain clothes will be present in and outside the cinema halls," Roy said, adding many of the theatre owners have started the advance booking of the film.