A horror film may be meant to scare, but the events inside a Pune multiplex screening of The Conjuring: Last Rites turned terrifying in real life.
On September 5, a 29-year-old techie and his wife were brutally assaulted during the interval after what should have been a harmless request.
The problem began when a man behind them loudly explained the plot to his wife, spoiling the suspense for others. When the victim politely asked him to stop, the confrontation quickly escalated into shocking violence.
Police said the accused grabbed the techie by his collar, punching and kicking him on the face, abdomen, and hands.
When the techie’s wife tried to protect him, she was also assaulted and verbally abused. Their sister was caught in the chaos as well. Injuries forced the couple to seek hospital care, and an FIR was registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The accused couple, residents of Vallabhnagar, are now being tracked for legal action.
This disturbing episode highlights the fragility of civility in public spaces. A casual movie outing meant for leisure became traumatic simply because one man refused to respect basic etiquette.
Sadly, such incidents are not rare. Indian theatres, often crowded and poorly monitored, have witnessed many cases of aggression.
While police will pursue the case, multiplex authorities also face questions. Where was in-hall security when the violence erupted?
Horror may belong onscreen, but the violence inside theatres is becoming all too real.
