Lauren Gottlieb courts controversy for posing with rifle

Srinagar: Actress Lauren Gottlieb, the leading lady of Bollywood producer Vashu Bhagnani's upcoming movie "Welcome to Karachi", has stirred a controversy by posing for a picture with an AK rifle and a security forces' helmet.

Gottlieb, who was here last week at the promotional launch of the movie alongside actor Jacky Bhagnani, posted the photograph on social networking site Instagram.
"How do you like my new hat?" Gottlieb wrote on her account.

The photograph clicked inside the state government-owned Hari Niwas guest house has got more than 7,250 likes since the actress posted it online.

The AK rifle and the helmet worn by Gottlieb has apparently been lent out to her by one of the security force personnel posted at the guest house, leading to questions about violations in standard operating procedure.

Ashish Kumar Jha, public relations officer of CRPF, denied that any one of their personnel was involved in this.
"No one from CRPF is involved in this," Jha said.

Senior officials of the security wing of the Jammu and Kashmir police refused to comment on the incident.