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A group of masked individuals invaded a west London cinema yelling ‘down with India’ during the screening of a Bollywood movie, leaving patrons ‘terrified’.
Video footage captures the group interrupting a showing of the film ‘Emergency’ at Harrow Vue Cinema on Sunday evening.
Saloni Belaid, who had purchased tickets for the screening, recounted how the individuals forced their way past staff and screamed ‘down with India’ after the film was labeled ‘anti-Sikh’.
She expressed: ‘It was truly chaotic and alarming. Ninety-five percent of the crowd exited while they were enforcing intimidation, whereas my friends and I remained to confront them.
‘These were masked individuals shouting in the dark – we had no idea about their intentions. It was terrifying.’
She informed Times of India that cinema staff did not intervene, and although police arrived in less than 10 minutes, they did not cease the group as they were exercising their right to protest.
Saloni stated that these individuals were affiliated with the Khalistan separatist movement, which seeks to establish a homeland for Sikhs.
The Hindi film Emergency has been characterized as ‘anti-Sikh’, with protests additionally taking place across the Midlands.
Screenings have been called off at Cineworlds in Wolverhampton and Birmingham.
Rashmi Chaubey, who shared the footage on Facebook, remarked: ‘It’s an extremely frightening and intimidating situation when over 20 masked men wielding knives entered and obstructed the exit in a dimly lit theater.
‘They ultimately managed to halt the film. The police were powerless and maintained that it was their right to protest.
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‘It signifies a disheartening day where the right to protest was utilized to obstruct freedom of expression.’
Both Vue Cinema and the Metropolitan Police have been contacted for statements.
The Sikh Press Association labeled the film as ‘anti-Sikh Indian state propaganda’.
They stated: ‘It likely conveys misleading information that tarnishes respected Sikh figures. Such depictions foster anti-Sikh animosity and Indian state stereotypes that demean the community, which constitutes merely about two percent of India.
‘The theaters displaying this nationalist propaganda are backing content that poses a risk to Sikh communities today, justifying anti-Sikh hostility, which is currently a significant concern amidst a surge in India’s transnational violence.’
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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