The activists of Shiv Sena attacked and ransacked theatres in Mumbai that were showing Shah Rukh Khan's new movie, 'My name is Khan' on Tuesday even after their party chief had said the activists would not interfere with the screening of the film.

Party chief Bal Thackeray had earlier made a promise that the activists from the party will not disrupt the screening of the film. Mr. Thackeray had written on Sunday in the party paper Saamna "Traitors, with the blessings of the Congress party, go ahead. Shiv Sena will not block you. Why our Shiv Sainiks should be beaten up and arrested?"

The party had raised its opposition to the screening of the film after the lead actor Shah Rukh Khan made a statement in which he said that the Pakistani cricket players should be allowed to play on Indian Premier League 3. Khan owns one of teams in the tournament.

Mumbai Police Commissioner D Shivanandan has given his assurance to the director of the movie, Karan Johar that the movie theatres were given full security and the screening would go on without issues.

Around 54 activists were arrested from different parts of the city after they broke window panels of the advance booking counters. Police has rounded up another 114 activists as a primitive measure.

The chief minister of the state Ashok Chavan has threatened to withdraw the security cover of executive president of the party, Uddhav Thackeray and leaders involved in the protests. Uddhav responded by saying that he is wiling to give up his security cover himself.

The movie had garnered a good response along with a positive review. Actors Aamir Khan and Salman Khan have come out in support of Shah Rukh on the issue.