Surat:
Five persons, including four members
of outfit Karni Sena and one from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP),
were arrested today for allegedly vandalising a rangoli
inspired by an upcoming film "Padmavati" at a mall here, the
police said.
The police had on October 16 registered an FIR against a
group of people for vandalising a rangoli created by a local
artist (an artwork created on floor using colourful vermilion)
at Rahul Raj Mall in Umra area on Sunday last.
Based on a video, which shows vandals shouting "Jai Shri
Ram" as they damaged the art work, police arrested them.
Talking to reporters, Surat Commissioner of Police
Satish Sharma also urged mall owners to come forward to lodge
a case if such vandalism takes place.
"We have arrested five persons, four of them belonging
to outfit Karni Sena and one from the VHP. More persons are
likely to be arrested as the video footage recovered by us
shows 8-10 persons involved in the activity," Sharma said.
"I also want to make it clear that the police will
deal with strictness against any such action. Freedom of
expression is everyone's right in a democracy, but vandalism
will not be allowed," he said.
The arrested persons have been identified as Vikramsinh
Sekhawat, Shambhusinh Rathod, Narendra Chaudhary, Shailendra
Rajput and Sanjaysinh Gohil, said the official.
They have been arrested under various sections of
Indian Penal Code including 141, 149 (unlawful assembly), 451
(trespassing) and 427 (mischief causing damage).
The rangoli showed the film's actress Deepika Padukone
in her titular role as Padmavati in the Sanjay Leela Bhansali
directed movie.
Raising questions of freedom of expression, Padukone had
yesterday said she was heartbroken by the attack on a rangoli
inspired by her upcoming film "Padmavati" and drew Union
Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani's
attention.
"Absolutely heart breaking to see the recent attack on
artist Karan and his artwork! Disgusting and appalling to say
the least!" she tweeted along with a photograph of the
rangoli.
"This has to stop now and action must be taken
@smritiirani," she said on Twitter.
The movie ran into controversy after a Rajput community
group Karni Sena raised objections over depictions in the
movie, claiming that history was being distorted.
Earlier this year, Bhansali was attacked by its members ,
during the film's shooting in Rajasthan.
Last month, members of the Karni Sena burnt posters of
the film after the first look of the main characters --
Padmavati (Padukone), Maharawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor)
and Allaudin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) -- was released.
They also threatened to oppose the screening of the
movie in theatres if the facts were distorted. "Padmavati" is
slated to release on December 1.
