A fan of Shah Rukh Khan, who bought 120 tickets of Pathaan, was detained by police in Assam’s Darrang, citing “law and order” concerns over his “provocative comments” in an online video. Mafidul Islam, a leader of the North-East Minority Students’ Union, posted a video challenging Hindutva groups which had called for a boycott of the film. Mafidul had bought tickets in bulk for the first show on the first day (25th January) in Mangaldoi town.
Mafidul was allowed to go home in the afternoon, but the police initiated proceedings against him “to ensure peace and tranquility”. The fan had earlier said that he had bought the tickets to allay fears that the audience may face the wrath of Bajrang Dal. Activists of the Bajrang Dal had recently stormed a cinema in Guwahati and torn down posters of Pathaan.