Angry mobs, protesting against the controversial film Padmaavat, went berserk in Ahmedabad on Tuesday evening torching vehicles outside multiplexes and malls.
The protesters targeted malls on the Sarkhej Gandhinagar Highway. The malls and multiplexes were shut down as precautionary measures and the shoppers evacuated for safety reasons.
It is not clear whether the Karni Sena, which has been opposing the film, is behind Tuesday's protests.
Following the Supreme Court's directive to release the film on January 25, the Gujarat government had provided security to 10 multiplexes and theatres in the city. Earlier, the multiplex and theatre owners had refused to screen the film after they faced threat from the Karni Sena.
Even after they were provided security, some of the multiplexes and theatres were not ready to release the film.
Before the assembly elections of December 2017, the state government had banned the release of the film. The ban continued even after the elections.
Once the Supreme Court gave the directive to release the film, the state government had said that it would study the order before taking any decision.
Police chiefs of various cities of Gujarat have said that strict action will be taken against rioters. However, the protesters went berserk despite police presence near some of the malls and multiplexes on Tuesday.
Traffic jams were also reported for several kilometres in the busy hours.
