Violence broke out in Ahmedabad late on Tuesday night as unruly mobs, protesting against the release of Bollywood film Padmaavat, went on the rampage, torching more than three dozen vehicles, vandalising theatres and multiplexes and shops in two malls in the city’s posh areas of Memnagar and SG Highway.
The police had to resort to firing in the air at two locations as hundreds of Karni Sena activists taking out a candle-light march turned violent.
“Some anti-social elements were behind the violence. We will take stern action against them,” Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja said.
Ahmedabad police Commissioner A.K. Singh said the police would not allow any kind of violent protest in the city.
Following the Supreme Court’s order allowing release of the film on January 25, the Gujarat government had provided security to 10 multiplexes and theatres in the city.
Despite security, some of the multiplexes and theatres were not ready to screen the film, fearing violence and vandalism.
