Karni Sena’s Gurgaon chief held over Padmaavat violence, SIT to probe bus attack

Violent incidents took place across the country as the Karni Sena alleged that history had been tampered with in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama Padmaavat.

Police in Gurgaon detained Thakur Kushalpal, the city chief of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, over the recent violent incidents, including the attack on a school bus and torching of a state roadways bus, a police officer said.

The Haryana Roadways bus that was set on fire near Bhondsi in Gurgaon allegedly by activists of Karni Sena, who were protesting against the release of Padmaavat. (HT PHOTO)

In protest against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, violent incidents took place at various places across the country. The Karni Sena alleged that history had been tampered with in the period drama. In Gurgaon, hundreds of violent protesters took to roads, torching vehicles and destroying public property and attacked a school bus with children onboard.

To investigate the violence, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under a deputy commissioner of police (DCP)-rank officer has also been constituted, according to Ravinder Kumar, PRO of Gurgaon police.

“The SIT has ACPs, inspectors and ASIs as its members and is headed by DCP-South Ashok Bakshi. This team will make all-out efforts to collect scientific evidence and identify the remaining hooligans,” Kumar said.

A day after arresting Karni Sena national secretary Surajpal Amu from his residence in the posh DLF area, police on Saturday detained Kushalpal for questioning him about his role in the violent incidents in the district, police said.

“So far, 38 hooligans have been arrested and sent to judicial custody in connection with the violence. Twenty-four miscreants were arrested in eight criminal cases and 14 miscreants were detained for breaching peace and tranquillity in Gurgaon,” Kumar added.

Meanwhile, some angry villagers of Bhondsi threatened to call a Mahapanchayat on Sunday to take legal action against the Gurgaon police crackdown and alleged framing of “innocent juvenile and youths”.