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Padmaavat: Security beefed up in Haryana

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Security has been tightened in Haryana ahead of the release of controversial film 'Padmaavat' tomorrow, with the state police deploying additional force at cinema halls and multiplexes where the film is to be screened.

Orders have been issued to district police chiefs to ensure nobody takes law into his hands, Haryana Home Secretary S S Prasad told PTI.

The precautionary measures have been taken as fears of violence mounted against the release of the film tomorrow.

The protesters - associated with the Karni Sena and other Rajput groups - today torched a state-run bus and blocked the Delhi-Jaipur national highway in Gurgaon.
 

"We have directed the police to deploy appropriate and adequate forces around cinema halls and multiplexes in the state," Home Secretary Prasad said.

A meeting of senior officials, including Haryana Police chief B S Sandhu, was held in Chandigarh to discuss security arrangements ahead of the release of 'Padmaavat' tomorrow.

Sandhu said SPs have been told to take "necessary action" to maintain law and order and deploy additional forces.

"The district administration depending upon the situation can also impose (prohibitory orders under) Section 144 of the CrPC if they so feel," he said.

He said the Haryana administration has not called for central forces and urged people not to indulge in hooliganism.

As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders have been ordered in areas near multiplexes and cinema halls at a few places in the state, including Gurgaon, Panchkula, Sirsa, Kurukshetra and Karnal.

The protesters claim the film distorts history and portrays the character of Rani Padmavati in "poor light".

The filmmakers have denied the allegations.

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday said the state government would implement the Supreme Court order staying the ban the state had imposed on the film.

The Supreme Court's recent order had paved the way for the all-India release of the movie. The apex court had stayed notifications and orders issued by Gujarat and Rajasthan prohibiting the exhibition of 'Padmaavat'.

The film stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor.

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First Published: Jan 24 2018 | 7:30 PM IST

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