Chief Minister Revanth Reddy
Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy stated that the police investigation into the Sandhya Theatre stampede incident is ongoing. AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi mentioned that a woman died and a boy was seriously injured in a stampede at Sandhya Theatre on RTC X Roads on December 4. He urged the government to clarify the details of what actually occurred. In response, the CM made an announcement during the assembly.
The CM explained that there is only one way to access Sandhya Theatre. He also stated that despite the police advising against it, actor Allu Arjun arrived at the theater. "I didn’t expect the Sandhya Theatre incident to be discussed in the Assembly. Since members have raised the issue, I need to respond. As the matter is under investigation, it is not appropriate to speak in detail, as it could hinder the investigation. On December 2, Sandhya Theatre management submitted a request at Chikkadapally Police Station for security on the 4th of December, when the movie Pushpa-2 was scheduled for release. The hero, heroine, producer, and other cast members were expected to attend, and security was requested.
However, the Chikkadapally Inspector replied in writing the next day, explaining that the theater had only one entry and exit. Due to the presence of other restaurants and theaters in the vicinity, the police said it would be difficult to control the crowd, and therefore they could not provide security. The police explicitly rejected the request, advising against any actors or producers attending. Despite this, Allu Arjun arrived at the theater at 9:30 PM on the premiere night of Pushpa-2.
I don’t know if the incident would have happened if he had come directly to watch the movie and left quietly. Instead, he arrived at Sandhya Theatre from RTC Cross Road in his car and waved to fans from the rooftop. Fans from surrounding areas gathered to see their favorite actor. The gate was opened to allow Allu Arjun's car to enter, and then, hundreds of fans rushed to enter the theater. This led to a stampede. Tragically, a woman named Revathi died in the incident, and her son suffered severe brain injuries. He is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. The police investigation is still ongoing," the CM explained.
Despite the ACP’s warnings, Allu Arjun did not heed the advice. The police attempted to tell him, "The situation has become chaotic, and you need to leave." However, the theater management blocked the police from approaching him. Eventually, the ACP went to explain the situation directly to Allu Arjun, warning that it could lead to a law-and-order issue and advising him to leave. Allu Arjun insisted on watching the movie, as he had been informed by the city commissioner. The police made arrangements to send him away, but once again, he waved to the crowd from the rooftop. Tragically, the woman died, and despite knowing her son was in critical condition, the situation continued as it was. Allu Arjun and others have already been arrested in connection with the incident, and the investigation is ongoing," the CM added.
The CM also commented on the online reactions following the arrests: "After the police arrested the hero, many political parties behaved inappropriately, posting mean-spirited comments about me. One ordinary private employee, whose son was a fan of Allu Arjun, bought tickets for Rs. 3000 each and took his family to the movie. Tragically, the woman died in the stampede, and her son was critically injured. However, for 11 days, neither the hero nor the producer showed any concern for the family. Film personalities queued up to visit the actor after his release on bail, but no one visited the child in the hospital, who was fighting for his life. What kind of humanity is this?
When the police arrested those responsible for the tragedy, some political leaders criticized the action. A former minister posted a random comment on Twitter, questioning the arrest. They spoke without considering the consequences. Politicians and public representatives must be responsible. When a life is lost, no one asks how the family is doing. Instead, they trivialize the loss of life. They criticized the government for arresting those responsible for the tragedy. They used vile language. I want to make it clear to the film industry: inhumane incidents cannot be ignored. You can make films, do business, and earn money. You can receive concessions and incentives from the government, and you can also get special permissions for shootings. But the government will not stand by when lives are lost. As long as I am in power, I will not ignore such incidents. My responsibility is to protect the lives of the people of Telangana. There will be no exceptions if incidents occur that result in loss of life," the CM concluded.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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