CHENNAI: There was panic among moviegoers at a city theatre on Sunday afternoon when a group of 20 people roughed up a young man and two women students who, among others, had not stood up when the national anthem was being played before the screening of ‘Chennai 28-II’.
The violence broke out during the intermission of an 11.30am show at Kasi theatre in Chennai’s Ashok Nagar.
Around 20 people beat up the three following an argument. Witnesses said nine people had remained seated while the anthem was being played.
During the interval, one Vijayakumar grabbed Viji, afreelance movie reviewer, by the collar and demanded to know why he did not stand up for the anthem. In the argument that ensued, 20 people ganged up on Viji and two women, Sabaritha and Shreela, and beat them up. “We were harassed and manhandled. They issued life threats and assaulted us. We did not have any intention to show disrespect,” Shreela, a law student, told TOI. Theatres here have started playing the national anthem before each screening. Vijayakumar, a civil service aspirant, said “They were taking selfies when the anthem was being played, which was not welcomed by many of us.”
Bureau Report
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