Dead Body at Jaipur Fort to Turn Padmavati Protests Communal?

Stones with a threat message, “Hum sirf putle nahi jalate (We don’t just burn effigies)” was found near the body.

File image of Karni Sena protesting against the release of Padmavati. Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: PTI)

A day after a man’s body was found hanging at Jaipur’s Nahargarh Fort with an ‘anti-Padmavati’ note, more images of scribbles on the parapet of the fort have come up which indicate that the death may not have been the work of those protesting against Padmavati. According to a report in India Today, the notes found on the stones are addressed not to the film’s makers but to the protesters.

The scribble saying, “Hum sirf putlay nahin latkaate Padmavati” which received comprehensive media coverage was assumed in protest for the movie. However, a report in India Today, shows a picture with another note which says, “Padmavati ka virodh karne walo, hum kile se sirf putlay nahin latkaate. (To those protesting against Padmavati, we don’t just hang effigies from forts.)

The writer of the report infers the slogan to be a taunt against the protesters who’ve been burning effigies while speaking out against the film.

‘To Incite Communal Protests’

Several other messages scribbled on stones were also found near the dead body, according to the report and it is speculated that some of these messages intend to give the protests a communal colour.

One such message reads,

<i>Hum putlay nahin latkaate, Allah Ke Bande, Hum Mein Hai Dum</i>. (We don’t hang effigies, we are Allah’s men and we are powerful.)

Earlier, hours after Saini’s bodywas found hanging from Jaipur’s Nahargarh fort, his brother came out to say the death had no link to the film.

Further saying that the death was not a case of suicide, the deceased’s brother Ram Ratan Saini alleged foul play, demanding a high-level probe into his brother’s death.

My brother cannot commit suicide, it appears to be a murder. We will demand an investigation into the death.

He also said that the death was unconnected to the threat found on the rocks near the body.

When the body was discovered on Friday morning, stones with a threat message, “Hum sirf putle nahi jalate... (We don’t just burn effigies)” and a note, “Padmavati ka virodh”, were also found near the body.

The president of the Rajput Karni Sena said the messages on the stones were written to provoke the outfit.

"People are threatening us... whatever is being done is wrong," he said.

Karni Sena leader Lokendra Singh Kalvi called the incident “regrettable”, adding that it “should not have happened”.

The body has been sent for post-mortem and further investigation is on, the police said.

Body found at Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur.

Stones with threat messages scribbled at Nahargarh fort.

(Photo: ANI Screengrab)

Police officers inspect the location.

Padmavati has been facing the wrath of various Rajput groups and political leaders, who have accused Bhansali of distorting history.

Many groups have been protesting amid rumours that the film contains a romantic dream sequence between Rajput queen Padmini and Allauddin Khilji. However, Bhansali had dismissed the rumours.

Historians are divided on whether Padmini actually existed. She finds mention in the 16th century epic poem ‘Padmavat’.

Earlier scheduled to arrive in cinema halls on 1 December, the release date of the film has now been postponed by the makers till further notice.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI.)

(This is a developing story and will be updated.)