Amitabh Bachchan Greets Fans From Behind Bulletproof Glass as Security Tightened at Jalsa
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan greeted fans gathered outside his residence, Jalsa, in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday, waving to them from behind a bulletproof glass screen. The use of the protective glass outside the actor’s residence has attracted considerable attention. The security measure comes two weeks after actor Tiger Shroff was shot at in Juhu and nine days after an email threatening an attack on Bachchan’s residence was received.
Usually, Amitabh Bachchan uses a raised platform fitted with wheels during his weekly appearance before fans. This allows fans standing at a distance to get a better view of him. The actor is also often seen wearing a loose jacket, which some fans speculate may conceal a bulletproof jacket underneath. On November 1, protective glass screens were seen installed on three sides of the platform during his interaction with fans.
For decades, Amitabh Bachchan has maintained the tradition of stepping out of Jalsa every Sunday evening to wave at fans who gather outside the bungalow.
According to an official, security agencies and the Mumbai Police were placed on high alert on October 23 after an email sent to Mayor Ritu Tawde threatened bomb blasts at her office, Bachchan’s residence and the venue of singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert.
According to police sources, a copy of the email was also sent to Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi. The email threatened an attack on Jalsa between October 31 and November 27 and warned of a grenade attack on a school on October 31. It also threatened an attack during Diljit Dosanjh’s concert scheduled for November 27 in the Mahalaxmi Racecourse area.
Officials said security arrangements and surveillance had been strengthened at all the locations mentioned in the email. An investigation has also been launched to trace the origin of the email and identify its sender. However, it remains unclear whether the bulletproof glass arrangement at Bachchan’s residence was introduced as part of a government security directive or was his personal decision.
Meanwhile, actor Tiger Shroff was targeted in a shooting incident on the evening of October 18 while returning from a football match in Juhu. Two assailants fired several rounds at his BMW as it passed fans waiting outside the compound gate. One of the attackers subsequently pointed a gun directly at Shroff, but the weapon malfunctioned, allowing the actor to escape unharmed. However, his driver and a passerby sustained injuries.
The Lawrence Bishnoi gang reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. The gang allegedly stated that Shroff was targeted because of his close association with actor Salman Khan, whom they have been attempting to target in connection with a blackbuck poaching case.
According to sources, the accused had visited the residences of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan under the pretext of sightseeing to avoid suspicion. However, their actual target was Tiger Shroff. The motive behind the attack was to spread terror in Bollywood, sources said.
The accused shooters have been identified as Hrithik alias Roshan, 22, from Bihar, and Rehan, 18, and Phool Singh, 18, from Haryana. They were arrested in Kota, Rajasthan. Two other accused, Radha and Babita, were arrested at New Delhi Railway Station. Meanwhile, Kunal, 21, and Sumit, 19, were arrested in Sonipat, Haryana. So far, a total of 12 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
