Indian theatre festival forced to close after Hindu vigilantes object to satirical plays

Bajrang Dal hardliners in Madhya Pradesh threaten violence over plays disrespectful to the Indian flag'

Rightwing Hindu vigilante groups in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh have forced the cancellation of an annual theatre festival, after threatening violence over satirical plays they accused of being anti-national".

The annual theatre festival organised by the Indian People's Theatre Association in the small town of Chhatarpur became the object of abuse and violent threats by Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu group linked with the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP).