Chandigarh, Feb 13 (IANS) Amid tight security across Haryana and Chandigarh, controversial film "MSG - the Messenger" was released Friday in 4,000 screens across the country.
Security personnel patrolled near all the theatres and multiplexes across Haryana and Chandigarh Friday as the film was released.
Police and paramilitary forces manned sensitive areas.
Prohibitory orders against assembly of people and carrying weapons were issued across Haryana Thursday to deal with any untoward situation, resulting due to the build-up of tension over the release of the film.
Sikh organisations held protests in some places in Haryana Thursday.
The film features Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Haryana Director General of Police Yashpal Singal has urged people to maintain law and order.
"Section 144 has been imposed in various districts and additional police personnel have been deployed in all the cinema halls," Singhal said.
The authorities have banned holding any procession or demonstration without permission.
The Punjab government has banned the release of the film last month.
After being denied a release certificate by the Censor Board last month, the film got the certificate last week.
Haryana Police officers said here that the situation was being closely monitored in many parts of the state, especially in Sirsa, Kurukshetra, Gurgaon, Rohtak, Ambala and other districts.
While the Dera Sacha Sauda sect headquarters are located near Sirsa town, 250 km from Chandigarh, Kurukshetra and some other places house a substantial Sikh population.
The relations between sect followers and Sikhs have not been good in recent years.
In Chandigarh, security has been tightened around malls, where the film was released.
Sikh leaders Thursday submitted a memorandum to the Chandigarh administration Thursday, seeking a ban on the release of the film.
The controversial movie was earlier called "MSG" (Messenger of God).
It was to be released Jan 16, but it did not get clearance from the Censor Board. Various groups protested against its release at that point.
The sect leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who plays the protagonist in the film, is its director, singer and lyricist, and has been aggressively promoting the film countrywide.
The sect claims the movie is not against any religion or group and is only highlighting social evils.
IND vs PAK: Whether Pakistan will come to India to play World Cup or not, the new PCB chief reacted
Since October till now, the tussle between BCCI and PCB is not taking its name. After the stateme
Australia-Singapore Omicron: In Australia's New South Wales city, the first death from the new va
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday that he is stopping his march in the cap
The final of IPL 2025 will be played today between Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore a
After Delhi conquest, AAP set to revive fortunes in UP
Lucknow, Feb 16 (IANS) After winning the assembly elections in Delhi hands down, the Aam Aadmi
Haryana to leave 4 districts un-locked
After the central government's new guidelines, now Haryana is also ready to move towards 'un-lock
'Don't build a house on my shore after seeing my water receding, I am the ocean and will definite
The Supreme Court has constituted a four-member committee to negotiate agricultural laws and reso
UPSC Civil Services Prelims Exam 2020: UPSC Civil Services Pre Exam 2020 will be conducted on Oct
Oscars 2024 Awards winners have been announced. Oppenheimer and Barbee dominated the event this y
