Visakhapatnam: A stampede-like situation occurred at a few cinemas in the city as people thronged them on Saturday morning to collect the free entry pass tokens by producing their Aadhaar card photocopies to watch the IFR-2016 live in the movie theatres on Feb. 7 evening.
However, several people could not get the tokens, even after waiting for more than hour in the queue, as the managements of several theatres blocked them following obligations from various departments.
Since morning, there has been a heavy rush at the theatres with people, including children and women folk, making a beeline to the 41 cinema halls, chosen for screening the ICP and Op Demo of IFR.
A few of those who could not get the tokens entered into heated arguments with the managements of the theatres. As the situation turned tense in a few areas, cops resorted to mild lathicharge to bring the situation under control.
P. Siva Kumar, an engineering student of a private college, wondered how could 1,000 tokens be over by 9.20 am while the management started issuing them only after 9 am at Jagadamba theatre.
However, the managements of several theatres claimed that they have started issuing the token from 8 am onwards witnessing long queues. With many lodging complaints on the managements, officials advised cops to examine CCTV footage to find out the facts.
