In a recent incident, the residence of famous Telugu actor Allu Arjun in Hyderabad has been vandalized by some people claiming they are members of the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OU-JAC).
The protest was sparked by a tragic incident wherein a woman was killed, and her minor son sustained grave injuries as a result of a stampede during the screening of Arjun’s recently released movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule.’
On December 22, 2024, a group of protesters gathered outside Allu Arjun’s residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.
They damaged flower pots and other properties while chanting slogans demanding justice for the victims of stampedes.
After that, police detained the protesters. It is worth noting that Allu Arjun was not at home during this incident.
Following this incident, the police increased security at the actor’s home to prevent any more disturbances.
It was this incident- a stampede-that prompted the protest on December 4, 2024, during the screening of ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ at Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad.
Allu Arjun made a surprise appearance at the screening, leading to an unforeseen huge surge of fans.
The crowd was so overwhelming that it led to a stampede in which a 35-year-old woman died and her 8-year-old son suffered serious injuries.
The woman’s husband subsequently lodged a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre’s management for their alleged negligence in failing to inform the police about the actor’s presence, which could have ensured better crowd control.
The incident led to Allu Arjun being arrested on December 13, 2024, on charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, but he was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court.
He was nevertheless in jail for one night due to procedural delays.
Two theater employees also got arrested in connection with the case. Subdued, Allu Arjun mourned the occurrence, declaring a grant of $29,000 for the victim’s family and pledging to cover the medical expenses for the injured child.
Statements from Allu family
Allu Arjun’s father, veteran producer Allu Aravind, faced the media after the poaching incident at his residence.
He emphasized that the said family has decided to maintain restraint and let the law take its course.
Aravind’s statement was as follows: “You have seen what happened outside our house, but this is not the time to act based on emotions.
We should not take action on this all now. The police have come and taken them away.
They have filed a case. No one will encourage this kind of event. If anyone from outside comes to disturb them, the police will take action.”
Public Response and Safety Concerns
This incident gave a fresh lease of life to the debate on safety measures to be built in large public gatherings, particularly film premieres featuring popular stars.
Critics now argue that crowd management was not adequately handled during the screening for ‘Pushpa 2’ which led to the gruesome outcome.
The protesters from OU-JAC also highlighted this by leaving a placard behind saying, “Crores of rupees are made by making films while those watching the films are dying.”
Incidents of vandalism at Arugula Arjun’s house foreshadow the rising tension following the ‘Pushpa 2’ stampede tragedy.
As investigation continues, a clamoring concern has been raised by film industry and authorities regarding the implementation of safety protocols within the syntaxes of the event in order to avert any such incidents in the future.
The Allu family, while grieving over it, has remained calm after advising the public against actions that may aggravate the situation at hand.
