Bus services on more than 100 routes in half a dozen districts in north Gujarat were suspended after violent protests by the Rajput community continued over the release of the Bollywood movie Padmaavat.

Sunday witnessed several protests, a day after protesters torched four public transport buses and a theatre in Ahmedabad was vandalised

The authorities decided to suspend bus operations as a precautionary measure as protesters continue to block traffic on highways at several places.

On Saturday, in four separate incidents of violence, as many buses were torched or damaged by volunteers of the Karni Sena and other outfits, protesting against the release of the movie in the State after the Supreme Court’s ruling. In another incident, a theatre was vandalised by protesters in Ahmedabad late on Saturday.

“We are trying to resolve the crisis,” a top official in the government told The Hindu, adding that the government was also exploring legal options.

Besides the Karni Sena, there are around 10 outfits involved in the ongoing protests including blocking of highways, torching State transport buses and targeting theatres and cinema halls if they decide to screen the controversial movie.

Fearing violence and vandalism, theatre owners and cinema hall operators have already announced that they would not screen the movie in the State as per the assurance they has given during with meeting with representatives of Karni Sena, Rajput community leaders and other stake holders.

As a result, the movie likely to be released a day before the Republic Day, is most likely to remain off screens in more than 125 multiplexes and hundreds of other cinema halls in the state.

It may be noted that the Gujarat government had banned the release of movie in the state in November when the state assembly polls were underway. Subsequently, the government had again issued a notification banning the movie on the ground of law and order situation in the state.