Seizure of 12 petrol bombs (Molotov cocktail) from Azad Colony in Kuniamuthur in the small hours of Wednesday and actor Kamal Haasan’s fans thronging the theatres anticipating the release of the movie Vishwaroopam, kept the city police on their toes.
Initial reports said the petrol bombs were readied to be hurled at cinemas that screened Kamal Haasan’s movie Vishwaroopam, while his fans began to gather in large numbers for the release of the movie.
The movie’s release was delayed by five days following a ban and subsequent legal process.
On Wednesday morning, following information about smell of petrol emanating from a gunny bag near a bush in Azad Nagar in Karumbukkadai, police rushed to the spot and recovered 12 petrol bombs. Police suspected that it was prepared to be thrown at theatres screening Vishwaroopam . A.K. Viswanathan, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City said Suleiman has been taken into custody for being responsible for making the petrol bombs.
The scheduled release of the movie faced trouble last week, after the District Collectors imposed a ban on movie by invoking Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code stating that the film might lead to deterioration of law and order due its content showing a minority community in bad light.
Even as the State went on appeal against the release of Vishwaroopam , Kamal Haasan’s fans thronged the theatres in the city. Fans who attempted to stage a road blockade on Mettupalayam Road in front of a theatre demanding the immediate screening of the film were removed by the police.
Similarly, commotion prevailed in front of a theatre on Railway Station Road. Police reinforcements were posted in large numbers. City Police said but for commotion by agitated fans, there were no incidents of violence anywhere in the city.
Staff Reporter adds from Tirupur: A group of people claiming to be fans of Kamal Haasan resorted to road blockade agitation on Tirupur-Avinashi Road on Wednesday evening for a few moments to express their dissent over the non-launch of Vishwaroopam in the State.
Meanwhile, another section of people staged an agitation at Dharapuram to express their displeasure over certain contents in the film that hurt the sentiments of Muslim population.
