Bajrang Dal activists also damaged or set fire to three video parlours in the same area, alleging that they were screening pornographic films.

The incident at the cinema theatre took place at about 3-30 p.m. A 20-strong group entered the theatre and broke glass, furniture and equipment, before forcing the managers to stop screening the movie.

The Bajrang Dal, claiming responsibility for the incident, stated that it intended that screening of the film, which is based on a lesbian relationship, was stopped in the city. ``The depiction of the characters is not consistent with normal behaviour and morals,'' city Bajrang Dal president Ashwin Modi told Express Newsline. He said the Bajrang Dal men were joined by people from the Varachha area.

In his complaint with the Varachha police, theatre manager Karan Singh Rathod said a group of about 20 people armed with lathis and rods barged into the theatre while the film was being screened. They demanded an explanation for the screening and set about damaging the infrastructure; the damage has been estimated at Rs 2.25 lakhs, the complaint said.

Soon afterwards, a group of people set fire to the Alpa Video theatre and two others in the nearby Matawadi area. A complaint was lodged in the first case.

Modi also claimed responsibility for the arson attacks on the video theatres and said the Bajrang Dal planned to force closure of all such parlours in the city soon. ``I am going to ask video parlour owners to stop screening pornographic movies. The kidnapping, rape and murder of the two school children recently is because people watch such movies,'' he claimed.