BANGALORE: Posing as viewers to avoid the police detection, the Kannada Rakshana Vedike activists struck two theaters in the city, which was screening a new release, defying the seven-week moratorium.
The activists entered the theaters after purchasing valid tickets and started shouting slogans, damaged screens and broke glasses in the non-Kannada theaters Abhinay and Cauvery. Panic-stricken viewers exited the theaters, even as the police who were present for protection of the theaters at the owner’s request reportedly took 68 activists into custody.
The incident follows the attack on a theatre on Saturday during which a number of persons including media persons were injured.
A city daily has quoted the city police commissioner Maraiswamy as saying, “The Government has not passed an order with regard to screening of movies. Everyone is interpreting the issue in his own way. But as far as the police is concerned, we will give protection to whoever seeks it. We cannot refuse them.”
Reports on whether the attacked theaters have resumed screening of films are awaited.
Meanwhile in a separate development, the meeting between the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce and the Indian Film Industry (Film Federation of India or FFI) to be held on 16 October to sort out the problems has been postponed for a week because matters in Karnataka, and Bangalore were spiraling out of control.
