Man’s body with message ''Padmavati ka virodh’ found in Jaipur fort

Jaipur, November 24

The body of a 40-year-old man was found hanging from the outer walls of Nahargarh Fort here on Friday, with the message "'Padmavati' ka virodh" - in protest against the film "Padmavati".

#Rajasthan: Body found hanging at Nahargarh Fort in #Jaipur, threat note on rocks also seen #Padmavati pic.twitter.com/sSx9ONhF7D

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2017

One of the messages, written on the stones near the fort wall adjacent to the body, read, "Hum putle nahin jalate....latkate hain" (we don't burn effigies, we hang them).

DCP North Satyendra Singh said the body of Chetan Kumar Saini, a resident of Shastri Nagar here and a handicraft worker, was found hanging from the boundary wall of the fort.

He said that messages were found scribbled on stones, but it was premature to connect the incident with ‘Padmavati’ protests.

The body has been sent for post-mortem and further investigation into it is on, the police said.

An outfit representing the Rajput community said it was not the way to protest.

President of Rajput Karni Sena, Mahipal Singh Makrana, said the messages on the stones were written to provoke the outfit.

“People are threatening us... Whatever is being done is wrong,” he said.

‘Padmavati’ has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused the film’s director Sanjay Leela Bhansali of distorting history.

Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that there was a romantic dream sequence between queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. However, Bhansali said in an appeal that there was no dream sequence and it was all a rumour.

On November 22, protesters blocked the entry to the Chittorgarh Fort till 5 pm and burnt effigies of Bhansali.

The next day, locals led by the Rajput community blocked entry to the Kumbhalgarh Fort in Rajsamand district “for some time” demanding a ban on the film.

However, historians are divided on whether Padmini actually existed. She finds mention in the 16th century epic poem “Padmavat”.

The release of the movie, earlier scheduled for December 1, has been deferred. Agencies