11 February,2010 09:05 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Security beefed up to deal with disruptive protests by Shiv Sena activists who have threatened to stall screening of SRK starrer
City cops are not taking any chances prior to the release of SRK's film My Name is Khan (MNIK) scheduled to hit the theatres tomorrow. 600 cops have been deployed in 22 theatres that will screen the film. The decision has been taken in the wake of Shiv Sena protests against Shah Rukh Khan.
Mahesh Patil, DCP Zone III, admitted that the security measures have been intensified. "We will ensure that the law and order situation is not disturbed and the screening of the film is not disrupted," he promised.
According to Patil, there will be at least 30 cops in each of the theatres screening the film. "We are also making an appeal to theatre owners and exhibitors to make their own private security arrangements and cooperate with the police. We will ensure that all theu00a0 theatres will have adequate security measures," he added.
Sanjivkumar Singhal, Additional Commissioner (Administration), confirmed that all cops from the 28 police stations across the city are on high alert.
Wait and watch
Said Sadanand Mohol, president, Pune Exhibitors Association, "It's a risky affair. We have been asked by the police to deploy private security apart from the measures taken by them. We are still deciding on the course
of action."
Prakash Chaphalkar, treasurer, Multiplex Association of India, said that they were still hopeful that the issue will be resolved by tomorrow. Vijay Jaswani, regional officer, Shrungar Film, who is distributing MNIK with Fox India Limited, said that the decision to screen the film has not changed. However, Hrishikesh Chaphalkar, partner, City Pride (Kothrud) Multiplex said that there are no advance bookings for the film. "Tickets will be sold on the day of the release. We expect the film to release on Friday with police bandobast as decided,"
he said.
