NEW DELHI:
Canadian Cineplex
halted its showings for Malayalam film '
Malaikottai Vaaliban
' due to uncontrollable circumstances, according to reports in the Canadian Press.
The declaration by a Cineplex spokesperson came after a statement by the
York Regional Police
(YRP) on their investigation into 'drive-by shootings at movie theaters' in Richmond Hill and Vaughan in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The statement said that on January 24th, law enforcement officers were dispatched to a theater in Richmond Hill 'after an employee arrived for work and found the windows had been shot at.' On the same day, a similar call was reported in Vaughan.
The release also stated that, “The suspects are being linked to both occurrences in York Region and to similar shootings that occurred at cinemas in Toronto and Peel Region the same night.” The theatres were located in Scarborough and Brampton.
“Investigators believe the incidents were targeted due to their similarities; all the cinemas were closed and occurred in the early morning hours,” it added.
Authorities urged the public and anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the vicinity to come forward with information. Cineplex has also removed the movie listings from its website.
In another incident affecting
Indian film
screenings, disruptions occurred for the second time, after three cinema venues in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) had to be evacuated on December 5 after unidentified substance was sprayed within the theaters during showings of Hindi films, following a shooting incident during the screening of a Malayalam movie.
The incidents occurred at multiplexes in Toronto, Vaughan, and Brampton. Law enforcement did not disclose whether the same Hindi film was being screened at all locations or if different Hindi films were involved.
“Police are investigating after hundreds of moviegoers were evacuated from three separate theatres in the GTA on Tuesday night following reports of substances being leaked into the buildings.” the York Regional Police (YRP) release stated.
(With input from agencies)
English (US) ·