After Supreme Court ordered all cinema theaters that before a screening of any movie, National Anthem should be played, many theaters started to do so.  

On Sunday, panic was created in a theater in Chennai when a group of 20 people abused and beat three people including two women for not standing when the national anthem was playing.

The incident took place on Sunday afternoon during the screening of 'Chennai 28-II' movie at Kasi theater in Chennai's Ashok Nagar.

The violence broke out during 11.30 show in the intermission.

Witnesses said "nine people had remained seated while the anthem was being played. During the interval, one Vijayakumar grabbed Viji, a freelance movie reviewer, by the collar and demanded to know why he did not stand up for the anthem. In the argument that ensued, 20 people ganged up on Viji and two women, Sabaritha and Shreela, and beat them up."

"We were harassed and manhandled. They issued life threats and assaulted us. We did not have any intention to show disrespect," Shreela, a law student, told TOI.

Vijayakumar, a civil service aspirant, said: "They were taking selfies when the anthem was being played, which was not welcomed by many of us."

Also Read: SC Orders to Play National Anthem in All Theaters, Exits Needs to be Closed

BY M. DIVYA SRI