August 31, 2002	Saturday	Karachi, Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423

NEW DELHI, Aug 30: A rightwing Hindu group in the state of Rajasthan threatened on Friday to let loose venomous snakes in theatres screening a Bollywood flick because the film has allegedly been financed by the underworld, a report said.

The Shiv Sena decided on the slithery scare tactic because more traditional methods — demonstrations and sit-down protests — have lost their appeal, party leader Nanak Ram Thavani said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.

The Shiv Sena is a partner in Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s Hindu nationalist BJP-led federal coalition.

“Kaante” (Thorns) has an impressive cast which includes Indian megastar Amitabh Bachchan and actor Sanjay Dutt, whom police claim to have captured recorded speaking by telephone to an underworld don.

Dutt is one of the co-producers of the film.

“Kaante”, a rehash of Quentin Tarantino’s Hollywood potboiler “Reservoir Dogs”, is slated for release in India on September 27.

On Friday, Thavani said cadres of the Shiv Sena had earlier registered their protest against the film by burning posters but this had made little impact.

A spokesman for the Rajasthan government said authorities would take steps to prevent snakes being dumped in cinemas.

The deep involvement of the underworld in India’s Hindi film industry was highlighted last year when big-time producer and diamond dealer Bharat Shah was arrested for allegedly receiving money from organised crime to finance his films.

Bollywood stars, meanwhile, have been subject to extortion threats in recent months, with some seeking police protection.

Bombay police say extortion demands are now being issued nearly every other day.—AFP