North Indians face attacks for the second day

CM Vilasrao Deshmukh orders a high-level probe into clashes between MNS and SP workers, report Naresh Kamath & Dharmendra Jore. SurferSpeak...

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) continued its assault on north Indians for the second day on Monday, damaging taxis in Dadar, vandalising a theatre showing a Bhojpuri movie in Thane and even allegedly lobbing a bottle at superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow.

HT Image

This, while the nation debated if this could be Mumbai’s path to being a global city.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh asked state police chief PS Pasricha to conduct a high-level probe into Sunday’s clashes between MNS and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers. He warned both parties against politicising the issue.

Trouble on Monday started at 1.30 am when two unidentified motorcycle-borne people threw a bottle inside Bachchan house Prateeksha. No complaint was lodged with the police. “Our leader shared a personal friendship with the Bachchan family and our activists are not involved. We condemn the incident,” said MNS spokesman Shirish Prakar.

In the evening, addressing the MNS womens’ wing, Raj said: “I request you not to resort to violence and keep your cool. I assure you that we will retaliate if provoked.” In Mantralaya, Deshmukh told state SP chief Abu Azmi that guilty from both parties would be brought to book. “We have information about speeches made by politicians inciting party workers,” he told Azmi.

Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said 40 people had been arrested for rioting.