Kerala police launch probe into vandalism of film set by right wing group

: Police on Monday launched a probe into the alleged vandalism of a cinema set near Kochi by a fringe right wing group on Sunday, with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacting sharply over the incident and warning of strong action against the culprits.

Expressing anguish over the attack, actor Tovino Thomas, who is starring in the film, said the "contractual set" of the film "Minnal Murali" was destroyed by a group of "racialists".

Police said an investigation has been launched into the incident after registering a case against a group of people who were allegedly involved in damaging the set erected for the Malayalam film.

In a Facebook post, Hari Palode, the leader of a right wing group AHP, congratulated a district leader of the "Rashtiya Bajrang Dal" for destroying the set raised on the sand bed of the Periyar river in Kalady, near a temple.

He has also posted photos of the alleged vandalism on his Facebook page.

The incident drew a sharp reaction from Vijayan.

"Such an act should not have happened in our state," he told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram in response to a query.

Referring to incidents of targeting film sets and crew of movies in other parts of the country, allegedly by certain 'communal elements' as part of implementing their communal agenda, the Chief Minister said, "This was not accepted by the people of this country."