Shah Rukh Khan cricket row: More than 1,100 arrested
February 10, 2010
Police in India have arrested more than 1,100 people following protests against a Bollywood film.
They were prompted by comments made by its star, Shah Rukh Khan, about the fact that no Pakistan cricketers had been picked for an upcoming tournament.
Hindu hardline party Shiv Sena reacted angrily, vowing to disrupt screenings of My Name is Khan, out on Friday.
Posters in Mumbai (Bombay) were ripped and cinemas stoned, prompting police to put security measures in place.
Authorities have announced that 21,000 police officers will guard the 63 cinemas screening the film in Mumbai, frisking patrons before entering.
Shah Rukh Khan was in London last week promoting the film
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More security will be provided if needed, pledged senior police official Himanshu Roy.
Khan, part-owner of Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders, spoke out after no players from Pakistan were selected for the IPL Twenty20 competition.
The 44-year-old has stood firm over his remarks, but apologised to his My Name is Khan collaborators.
“I request everybody to leave the film alone and deal with what I have said as an individual,” he told reporters in London last week.
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In the film, Khan plays a Muslim with Asperger’s syndrome whose life in the US changes after the 11 September attacks.
Shiv Sena, a regional party espousing the cause of local Hindus, has pledged to continue its protests.
The organisation, often described as anti-Muslim, reportedly regards itself as a defender of traditional Hindu moral values.
Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest stars of India’s film industry and has hosted the local version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
The eight-team IPL Twenty20 competition starts on 12 March and is staged over 45 days.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
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