Bhubaneswar, May 21: Maharaja Cinema Hall in Bhubaneswar witnessed tense scenes on Thursday after a group of youths allegedly created chaos during a movie screening, leading to a violent altercation, vandalism and damage to vehicles parked outside the theatre.

Following the incident, Saheed Nagar Police arrested three persons, including a minor, in connection with the violence.

Disturbance Inside Hall Escalates Into Clash
According to police sources, trouble began when some youths allegedly started shouting and creating disturbances inside the cinema hall during the screening. Their behaviour reportedly disturbed other moviegoers, who objected to the commotion.

The argument soon escalated into a heated confrontation inside the theatre.

A source said the situation turned violent after the theatre management intervened and attempted to calm the youths. The accused allegedly attacked members of the management staff and vandalised property inside the cinema hall.

Several items inside the theatre were reportedly damaged during the incident.

Vehicles Outside Theatre Also Damaged
The accused persons allegedly also targeted vehicles belonging to audience members parked outside the cinema hall.

Panic spread among moviegoers for quite some time as the violence escalated, forcing authorities to intervene and restore order at the spot.

Two Accused Identified, Probe Underway
Based on CCTV footage and further investigation, police arrested three accused persons, including a juvenile.

Two of the arrested accused have been identified as Raja Reddy and Sarathi Nayak.

Police said the accused belong to the Ganapati Nagar slum area in Bhubaneswar.

Also Read: Two More Arrested In Berhampur Giri Road Assault Case

Officials are continuing investigation to ascertain whether more persons were involved in the violence. Security arrangements around the cinema hall have also been strengthened to prevent further disturbances.

However, no official statement has yet been issued by the local police regarding the incident.

Safety Concerns Raised
The incident raised concerns over crowd management and safety arrangements at cinema halls in the city, particularly during crowded screenings and late-night shows.