Before release of MSG-The Messenger, here comes the message: Cops fully ready

UT Home Secretary Anurag Agarwal told Newsline, “We expect there will be no disturbance because today both the DC and the SSP met various local religious organisations which assured that they would not protest before watching the movie. But if something happens, we are fully prepared.”

[related-post]

Even since the release of its promotion on December 19 last year, the movie, portraying the dera head in the leading role, has been in the eye of a storm, with several religious organisations, objecting to the glorification of the self-styled guru.

The Punjab government banned the movie last month and the censor board initially refused to give it clearance which finally came earlier this month.

What is also worrying the local authorities is that a large number of dera chief’s supporters from Punjab are expected to arrive here to watch the film. Much of the police deployment is made around Industrial Area since as many as 50 shows are booked in bulk for the next one week at PVR multiplexes in Industrial Area — 30 of these in Elante Mall and 20 in Centra Mall.

Besides, bulk booking is made for Friday for nine shows in Fun Cinemas, Manimajra and seven each in Piccadilly Square in Sector 34 and INOX-Shalimar Mall in Sector 5, Panchkula.

The police began barricading the roads leading to the multiplexes in the evening. SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that one DSP had been deputed at each of the multiplexes (Elante, Centra Mall, Piccadilly and Fun Republic) with a force of at least 50 personnel. An inspector would be stationed at each of the entry points of these multiplexes.

Besides, patrolling had been increased in areas like railway station, Inter-State Bus Terminus of Sector 17 and 43.

Entry to Elante and Centra Mall will be restricted from Friday morning and parking arrangements are being made near the CTU workshop and other nearby places. A senior manager of Elante Mall said that there would be no parking either at their basement or in front of the mall.

“The police would be delayed at each floor as well as in front of the auditoriums to ensure that there is no law and order situation,” he said.

The fire and other administration officials visited all multiplexes to inspect the emergency arrangements.

Asked whether the arrangements would continue through the weekend, SSP Gill said, “We will review the situation on Friday evening and then take a call.”

Meanwhile, general secretary of Chandigarh Samuh Gurdawara Prabhandhak Sanghathan Harjinder Singh said that they had called a meeting on Saturday to take a further call on the movie.