Senior administrative and police officers based in Dehraudn visited on Wednesday several theatres in the city to take stock of security a day before the controversial Hindi film 'Padmaavat' hits the theatres across the country. law enforcement agencies briefed their staffers to be on high alert with the focus being particularly trained on the theatres located in Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun, Nainital and Haridwar districts, the four districts being known as sensitive on the law and order front. Police would patrol the cinemas round the clock to stop any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, the police personnel have already started patrolling areas near the cinemas on Wednesday. Besides, to make security fool-proof, PAC jawans have been deployed too at the theatres located in the four districts.
In Dehradun, ADM (administration) Arvind Pandey and SP City P K Rai inspected the cinemas and the Malls where the flick would be screened on Thursday. Rai said that they are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that no untoward incident occurs anywhere. Policemen in adjoining districts have also been briefed to be alert on the day.
State ADGP (law and order) Ashok Kumar said that the district police chiefs have been directed to make adequate security arrangements ahead of the film's release. They need to ensure that no one takes law in his hands to disrupt the pace in their jurisdictional limits, he said.
District police chiefs have been directed to identify certain cinemas through their local police and brief their owners regarding safety and security.
The cyber cell of U’khand Police has also been involved in the security network. The members of the cell are keeping tab on the social media to stop any hatred message from being circulated.
In Haridwar, the flick would be screened at one hall located in State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand ltd (SIIDCUl) at Bahadrabad while it would be screened at several theaters in Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar districts. In Udham Singh Nagar district, the film would be screened at the cinemas located in Rudrapur, Kashipur and Kichha. PAC jawans along with police are patrolling areas around such cinemas.
A senior police official from Udham Singh Nagar said that no demonstration would be allowed in their jurisdictional limits. “We are extra alert in view of the Republic Day to be observed on Friday,” he added.
Notably, Dehradun, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts have seen angry protest erupting on the roads against the flick which is supposed to have thrown slur on the patriotic traditions of the royalties based in erstwhile Rajputana and the purity of the legendary queen Padmini.
Some groups based in Dehradun which have staged stir over the release of the controversial film warned that they would again take to the streets to vent anger once the film is released here.