NEW DELHI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Protesters resorted to arson in several Indian states a day before the nationwide release of Bollywood Hindi movie Padmaavat, demanding a ban of the controversial film, police said on Wednesday.
The protesters from fringe group Karni Sena, who claimed to represent Rajput community, torched passenger buses and pelted stones on vehicles in Gurugram on the outskirts of Delhi despite the Supreme court orders that film be screened.
Reports of violence and protests are pouring in from Haryana, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The four states anticipating violence had initially decided to ban the film in their respective states. However, the filmmakers moved to apex court against the unilateral decision of states.
In Uttar Pradesh police resorted to baton charging to chase protesters who damaged vehicles and forced shops to shut down.
In Rajasthan protesters blocked Delhi-Jaipur highway, following which traffic was hit on Delhi-Ajmer highway. The protesters also burnt used tyres to show their anger. Authorities have already closed down Chittor fort amid threats from the Rajput women that they would commit suicide en mass if the film was not stopped.
In Gujarat violent protests against the film erupted over past few days. Police have detained several protesters in Gujarat and Maharashtra who had indulged in violence.
Although local authorities in all these states said they would ensure release of the film, however ongoing violence and protests poses a question mark on their claims.
Meanwhile, cinema owners in all the troubled states have decided not to screen the film.
Protesters say director of the film Sanjay Leela Bhansali wrongly showcases a romantic relationship between the Hindu queen (Padmavati) and Muslim emperor Alauddin Khilji.
Padmaavat, which is based on the legend of Rani Padmini of Chittor, is scheduled to be screened in India on Thursday.
Famous Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone is playing the role of legendary Rajput queen Padmavati. The film also stars Shahid Kapoor as Ratan Singh, the last Rajput ruler and Ranveer Singh as Alauddin Khilji.
Initially the film was named Padmavati. However, in wake of massive protests, India's Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) locally called censor board asked its makers to undertake dozens of cuts besides renaming it.
Bhansali has been at the centre of a huge controversy with the Karni Sena accusing him of distorting history in the movie. However, he has repeatedly denied the allegations and recently released a video clarifying that his film does not distort history.
The film ran into trouble ever since its shooting. Its sets were vandalized twice and Bhansali was also attacked during one such shoot.
