Sena activists pelt stones, attempt shut down in parts of Mumbai

MUMBAI - Shiv Sena activists indulged in stone pelting in several parts of Mumbai, including Shah Rukh Khan’s offices in Khar-Danda near Bandra, and called for a Mumbai shutdown to protest the release of the actor’s “My Name Is Khan” here Friday.

Police said that some people came and pelted stones at Shah Rukh’s Red Chilliz Entertainment where police had deployed security since the past few days.

Shiv Sainiks also pelted stones at some cinema halls screening the movie including Amar in Govandi, and Ashish in Chembur, as well as public and private buses in Chembur, Ghatkopar, Andheri, Jogeshwari and Parel areas of the city.

Groups of Sainiks went around several parts of the city attempting to enforce a shutdown of shops and commercial establishments, including in Vikhroli, Parel, Sion, Chembur, Mahim, Goregaon Jogeshwari and Borivli areas.

A showroom of the Hyundai vehicles in Govandi in north-east Mumbai was also targeted by the Sena activists and damaged in stone-pelting by some Sena activists. Khan is the brand ambassador for Hyundai.

Not deterred by the ongoing protests by the Sena, Khan’s wife, Gauri went to watch MNIK at Fun Republic in Andheri in the evening. Besides the tight security outside the cinema hall, she was also provided personal security by Mumbai police.

“I am thankful to Mumbaikars for coming to watch the movie,” she briefly commented to mediapersons assembled there.

Meanwhile, Home Minister R.R. Patil warned that all the damages caused to cinema halls and other places shall be recovered from the Shiv Sena activists.

“The movie has been released in 13 cinemas… we have provided adequate security and patrons are watching it happily everywhere,” Patil told media persons.

Adopting a tough stance, the Mumbai police have arrested over 200 Sena activists indulging in protests against MNIK, taking the total figure of arrests in the past four days to nearly 3,000.