Mumbai, Feb 10 (ANI): Mumbai Police has detained over a thousand of Shiv Sena activists to avoid any disruption or violence during the release of the Bollywood flick ‘My Name is Khan’ on Friday.

The police has also provided special security to movie theaters screening the film. Applications for leave of all policemen has been cancelled to ensure a full presence.

Police personnel from the State Reserve Police Force and the Home Guards will also be deployed at the city’s 63 theaters, where the movie will be screened.

Meanwhile, movie theaters have closed down advance bookings for ‘My Name is Khan’, fearing attacks by Shiv Sena activists before and during the screening of the movie.

Shiv Sena activists had on Tuesday attacked several cinema halls that were supposed to screen Shahrukh Khan’s flick.

Sena workers managed to enter the halls and damage screens of the Metro theater in south Mumbai and the Huma Cinema at Kanjurmarg using sharp instruments.

Activists pelted stones and broke the glasses of Mehul cinema in suburban Mulund. They also tore down posters of the movie outside Fame cinema in Pantnagar and R-City Mall at Ghatkopar.

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar had on Tuesday met Mumbai Police Commissioner D Sivanandan and sought police security ahead of the film’s release.

The representatives of the film’s distributor, FOX Searchlight, had also met the top Mumbai cop along with multiplex owners.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ahok Chavan had on Tuesday issued a warning to Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray that his security would be withdrawn if he broke the law.

The Shiv Sena is upset with Khan’s statements that Pakistani cricketers should be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) inspite of the 26/11-terror attack. (ANI)