05.12.2024 - HYDERABAD - Following the stampede during 'Pushpa 2 The Rule' show at Sandhya Theatre, cops have implemented crowd-control
(Photo | Express)HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad police on Friday clarified that the Sandhya theatre management had not met any higher police officials seeking police security at the theatre on 4 December, when Pushpa 2 premier was shown.
The police clarification came in the wake of a letter circulating on the social media that the Sandhya theatre management had asked the police to provide bandobast on December 4 and 5 implying that the police had failed to prevent the stampede in which a woman died and her son sustained critical injuries.
The police said that the theatre management gave the letter in the inward section in the police station.
Central Zone DCP Akshansh Yadav said that they usually receive a lot of requests seeking bandobast citing visits by some political personalities, film celebrities, religious programmes and so on. But it is beyond our resources to provide bandobast for every event.
“In specific cases where a heavy crowd is expected or some popular personality is visiting, the organisers personally visit the police station/ACP/DCP office and seek bandobust. In this case the organisers did not meet any officer and simply submitted the letter in the inward section. No details were made available to the police. Despite this the police arranged suitable bandobast for crowd management outside the theatre”, he said in a press note.
He said that the crowd was well in control till the actor arrived. Allu Arjun after arriving at the theatre, came out from the sun roof of his vehicle and began waving at the public. This gesture attracted a lot of public towards the theatre main gate. At the same time his private security started pushing people to make way for his vehicle. Though Allu Arjun’s team was told to take him back, citing a large public gathering, they did not act on the suggestion. Allu Arjun was there inside the theatre for more than two hours.
Referring to the allegation that the police had acted high-handedly while arresting the actor at his residence, the police clarified that there was no question of misbehaving with him. “When the police reached his residence, the actor requested time to change his clothes. He then went inside his bedroom while the police personnel waited outside. The police took him into custody when he came out. There was no use of force or any misbehaviour with him by any police personnel. He was given enough time to interact with his family and wife. He himself came out and got into the police vehicle”, he said.