[Shah Rukh Khan's fans bursting firecrackers inside Vaibhav Theatre in Malegaon on Friday December 18, 2015. (Photo: Video grab)]
Malegaon: Hundreds of Shah Rukh Khan's fans were on Friday night baton charged and beaten up by local police after they went on rampage during the opening show of the bollywood star's blockbuster film 'Dilwale' in a city's cinema hall.
Eyewitnesses said the owner of Vaibhav Theatre in the city's prime area had to call police after Shah Rukh Khan 'lovers' and 'fans' burst firecrackers inside the hall during the screening of 'Dilwale'.
Those present inside the cinema hall said that as soon as Shah Rukh Khan appeared on the screen, his supporters and fans jumped in the main hall and balcony, and burst firecrackers in a huge quantity leaving the walls of the hall shaking due to explosion.
The show was stopped midway and the theatre owner called police for help. Shah Rukh Khan's fans, many drunk and under influence of alcohol, were not ready to give up even after the arrival of police and hence they had to use force to evict them out of the cinema hall, a police officer said.
After they were forced out of the cinema hall, the 'Dilwale' lovers went on rampage, abused onlookers and passerby, and disrupted traffic near and around Shivaji Statue to Mosum bridge and Qedwai Road areas of the city, forcing the police to resort to baton charge.
The situation in the affected areas was brought under control only after over two hours of massive efforts by the local police.
Film lovers in Malegaon are known for rude behavior during the opening show of their favorite films. In the past, clashes between fans of different bollywood stars especially Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Sanjay Dutt and others were a norm. Things were however brought under control after massive efforts by local police.
Meanwhile, the incident has shocked the entire city which is reeling under worst economic slowdown since last more than a year. The community elders while praising the local police for their efforts to control the situation expressed concern over the way the Muslim youths behaved in the name of 'love' and 'fan following' of their star.
"At the time when the city is facing economic crisis and a good number of people do not have enough money to feed their family, it was painful to see Muslim youths showering coins and currency notes, and bursting firecrackers during film screening", Anees Ansari, a waver, said while talking to ummid.com.