'Ashram 3' sets in Bhopal vandalised by Bajrang Dal, ink thrown at Prakash Jha
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Vehicles vandalised at the shooting of Prakash Jha's web series 'Ashram'.
Bhopal: The set of filmmaker Prakash Jha's web series 'Ashram' was vandalised in Bhopal on Sunday by members of right-wing outfit Bajrang Dal, who were allegedly opposed to the name of the series. Bajrang Dal workers also allegedly threw ink at Prakash Jha's face.
The windscreens of two buses of the crew were also broken in stone-pelting, police officials said. Besides that, Bajrang Dal threatened that it would not allow the shooting of this web series further.
Videos shot by witnesses on cellphones showed Bajrang Dal members chasing down crew, managing to catch at least one of them and beating him mercilessly with a metal light stand.
Members of the right-wing group said Prakash Jha's web series 'Ashram' starring Bobby Deol was an assault on Hinduism and they will not allow its filming till the title was changed.
Mr Jha, who has not filed a complaint in the matter yet, has assured that he will change the name of the series, a Bajrang Dal leader said.
A mob of Bajrang Dal members shouted slogans like "Prakash Jha Murdabad", "Bobby Deol Murdabad" and "Jai Shri Ram" as they attacked the set at Old Jail Premises located in Arera Hills in the evening.
"They made Ashram 1, Ashram 2 and were shooting Ashram 3 here. Prakash Jha showed in Ashram that the guru was abusing women. Does he have the guts to make such a film on a church or madrasa? Who does he think he is?" Bajrang Dal leader Sushil Surhele said.
"Bajrang Dal challenges him, we won't let him make this film. So far we have just blackened Prakash Jha's face. We are looking for Bobby Deol. He should learn something from his brother (Sunny Deol). He made such patriotic movies," he added.
The police have said that even though no one from Mr Jha's team has pressed charges, those involved will be identified and arrested.
"Action will be taken against those who disrupted the shooting and vandalised property today itself. They will be arrested," senior police officer Irshad Wali said.