MUMBAI: While Ajai Sinha‘s ‘Khap-A story of honour killing‘ is releasing on 29 July, khap panchayats across Haryana are building up support in their protest against the film that seeks to oppose the ritual of ‘honour killing‘ widely prevalent among the community.

Hence cinema owners in the stronghold of the Khaps in Haryana have preferred to play safe by not screening the film on its release this Friday.

Though cinema owners in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jind, Panipat, Sonipat and Karnal maintained that they had not received any threat from the khap panchayats, sources pointed out that apprehension of violence is one of the reason behind disinterest of the cinema owners in screening the movie at this stage.

A section of society comprising prominent persons, however, have taken a serious view of some khap individual‘s threat to obstruct the screening of the film in Haryana. They jointly submitted a memorandum to Rohtak district administration asking for necessary steps like providing security at the cinema halls.

Said social activist Prof D R Chaudhry, known to have taken up cudgels against the khaps on many occasions, "Fearing a possible threat by the khap elements, Rohtak theatre owners have reportedly decided not to screen the film due for all India release this Friday. This is highly unfortunate and a direct attack on the right to freedom of expression.If one does not agree with the film, one is free to express dissent or approach the court if there is anything illegal in the film as it has been cleared by the Censor Board."

The group of social activists stated that by issuing threats of obstructing the screening of the film, some khap individuals are promoting the culture of intolerance. "We request theatre owners to exhibit the film and call upon the district administration to provide the requisite security," they said in a joint statement.