Gurgaon residents flock to cinema halls screening 'Padmaavat'

Undeterred by yesterday's violence by fringe groups, filmgoers in Gurgaon watched Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama 'Padmaavat' on its opening day today even as the police made elaborate arrangements to ensure there was no mischief.

A majority of the over 40 multiplexes and theatres exhibited the Bollywood flick and the situation was peaceful, a police official said.

Yesterday, Gurgaon saw horrifying violence with a frenzied mob even attacking a school bus which was ferrying students while a state roadways but also torched. Protesters had also blocked a highway in the city.

Gurgaon Police PRO Ravinder Kumar said the movie was screened, being watched and enjoyed by film lovers since morning hours.
 

Forces have been deployed at all theatres and multiplexes screening the movie and they are on a high alert, he said.

There are over 40 multiplexes and theaters in Gurgaon including all PVRs, Fun cinema, INOX situated in MGF metropolitan mall, screens in Raheja Mall, Sahara mall, City Centre, Ambience and others, an official said adding that most of them were showing the film.

"The screenings of Padmavaat are taking place peacefully in multiplexes. The city malls have been asked to tighten internal security as have been multiplexes. They are frisking each and every visitors properly," PRO Kumar said.

We have appealed to Karni Sena supporters and other groups to follow the Apex court and Gurgaon police directions to maintain law and order, he said.

Some prominent schools were closed in Gurgaon including the Pathways school, GD Goenka school and Delhi Public School. Some schools like the Shiv Nadar school functioned.

However, a majority of parents did not sent their children to schools.

Yesterday, around 25 students of the GD Goenka World School, who were on their way home, were attacked by a group of around 60 activists, believed to be members of a fringe group. The attack received nation-wide condemnation.

The protesters attacked the bus with bamboo sticks asking the driver to stop. The mob also torched a Haryana roadways bus in Sohna.

The Gurgaon police have arrested 24 people for allegedly violating prohibitory orders, a senior official said.

"The Gurgaon Police is on a high alert and various teams are ready to respond quickly in case of any untoward incident," Police Commissioner Sandeep Khairwar said.