Maharashtra Govt. has taken all measures for safe screening of MNIK: Patil

Mumbai, Feb 12 (ANI): Maharashtra Home Minister R. R. Patil, who saw the controversial Shah Rukh Khan starrer film 'My Name Is Khan' at a multiplex in Mumbai on Friday, said that the state government has taken all measures for safe screening of the film.

While interacting with the media, Patil said that the film was being screened at 13 theatres across the city despite Shiv Sena activists seeking to defer its release.

"People are watching the film in a happy atmosphere. We have taken all the measures necessary for the smooth running of the film and currently the film is being screened at 13 theatres across the city," said Patil.

The Congress-NCP Government in Maharashtra has promised multiplex owners protection and is trying to ensure that Shiv Sena activists do not disrupt the screening of the movie.

Mumbai Police on Wednesday had detained over 1500 Shiv Sena activists, besides arresting around 59 others and charged them for creating violence and vandalism.

The police has also provided special security to movie theaters screening the film. Applications for leave of all policemen has been cancelled to ensure a full presence.

Police personnel from the State Reserve Police Force and the Home Guards were also deployed at the city's 63 theaters, where the movie was screened.

Shiv Sena activists had on Tuesday attacked several cinema halls that were supposed to screen Shahrukh Khan's flick.

Sena workers managed to enter the halls and damage screens of the Metro theater in south Mumbai and the Huma Cinema at Kanjurmarg using sharp instruments.

Activists pelted stones and broke the glasses of Mehul cinema in suburban Mulund. They also tore down posters of the movie outside Fame cinema in Pantnagar and R-City Mall at Ghatkopar.

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar had on Tuesday met Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan and sought police security ahead of the film's release.

The representatives of the film's distributor, FOX Searchlight, had also met the top Mumbai cop along with multiplex owners.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had on Tuesday issued a warning to Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray that his security would be withdrawn if he broke the law. (ANI)