While a theatre in Naroda area — Galaxy Cinema — was vandalised by some miscreants for screening the film, several others, including Devi in Naroda, Fun Republic, Wide Angle and Adlabs on S G Highway, saw angry protests on their premises and were 'threatened' to stop the film’s screening.

Over 100 members of lesser-known Rajput outfits 'Pratap Sena' and 'Rajput Yuva Manch' barged into the premises of Galaxy Cinema and vandalised the theatre’s premises. They broke the theatre's entrance gate, furniture and glass panes besides tearing the movie's posters and banners.

In a complaint filed with the Naroda police, the owner of Galaxy Cinema said that around 25 people vandalised his theatre and assaulted his co-partners, Manish Patel and Jignesh Patel. The police said that theatre property worth Rs 1 lakh was damaged and Jignesh's valuables worth Rs 40,000 were robbed in the incident.

Earlier, the same groups had forced owners of Devi Multiplex to stop the screening of the movie, which has Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in the lead roles. The multiplexes in the city, however, continued the screening amid police protection. Satellite police inspector, H R Zhala said, "We have deputed five police personnel, including a PSI, in all the three multiplexes under the police station's jurisdiction."

The Naroda police arrested three persons — Jayrajsinh Chudasma, Vijaysinh Padhiyar and Govindsinh Dharayat — in this connection. "We have registered a complaint of rioting against them and are on the look out for other accused," Inspector N G Dharajiya said.

A worker of Pratap Sena, Mukundsinh Rajput, when contacted said, "We are protesting against distortion of historical facts in the movie. Only an insane man can do such a thing."

Similar attacks were reported at Kinneri Cinema and Raj Hans multiplex in Salabutpura and Umra areas in Surat respectively. Members of Rajasthan Rajput Sangh and some other Rajput communities broke into these theatres, pelted stones and vandalised the premises, Surat police officials said.

Togadia reiterates support to Rajput community

VADODARA: VISHWA Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Praveen Togadia on Sunday reiterated his support to the Rajput community in opposing the screening of the Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai starrer Jodha Akbar, saying the movie had distorted history.

The Rajput community and the VHP have criticised the film claiming that history depicted in it was distorted, and had thus hurt the sentiments of the community.

Togadia expressed his support while addressing VHP members in the Swaminarayan Mandir in Sokhda near Vadodara as part of a two-day VHP Seva Sangam programme to discuss social service programmes.

However, he took the opportunity to slam the alleged Christian conversion at Rajpipla in Narmada district. Sources said that Togadia took interest in the issue after a confession came from a former Don Bosco teacher in Rajpipla, who was reportedly under pressure to convert, but had managed to leave the school with the help of local VHP members in Narmada. Togadia will conduct a programme in Dediapada on Monday in this connection.

He also touched upon familiar topics like the Ram Sethu controversy and the VHP's social service programmes.