Amidst continued protests all over India, Gurugram is all geared up for the release of the much-awaited Bhansali movie ‘Padmaavat’.
According to ANI, just before the release of the film, Gurugram District Magistrate has imposed Section 144 in the city. The section will be applicable within 200-metre radius of cinema halls and multiplexes.
This section empowers a district magistrate to prohibit an assembly of more than four people in a defined area.
District Magistrate Vinay Pratap Singh, in a statement, said,
“Direction under section 144 is necessary to impose restrictions on the presence of persons carrying firearms and other articles capable of causing injury, raising slogans and exhibiting placards within 200-metre radius of cinema halls/multiplexes under Section 144.”
The order will continue to be on force till 28 January, and any person found guilty of violating the order, will be liable to be punished under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
Punishment under this section can range from fine to imprisonment for up to 6 months.
‘#Padmaavat‘ row: Section 144 imposed in Gurugram.@FilmPadmaavat @Viacom18Movieshttps://t.co/6OKtbT5HlD pic.twitter.com/WWTZQ3fUo5
— ET Panache (@ETPanache) January 24, 2018
The step has been taken to avoid any kind of disturbance in the city, after reports of violence from Ahmedabad yesterday, just before the screening of the film. Section 144 was also imposed in Noida to prevent hooliganism by the protesters.
The controversial movie is slated for its pan-India release on 25 January 2018.