Demonstrations against the screening of
Jodhaa Akbar
at a cinema in Sangli turned violent on Thursday as nearly 40 people received minor injuries when police baton charged them leading to pelting of stones at state transport buses by the mob.
According to the demonstrators, the police action was "without any provocation".
The incident followed the protest staged by Shivpratisthan and other saffron groups in front of the cinema hall. The theatre owner complied with the demand to close the show and also removed the posters of the film, which the demonstrators alleged, has hurt sentiments of Rajputs.
Trouble, however, started when the protestors later gathered in front of the Shivaji statue in the city to hold a rally, leading to the baton charge.
The mob then swelled in numbers and indulged in widespread stone throwing at state transport buses.
Police, who have detained eight persons, described the situation to be under control.