A bust of Meenatai, the late wife of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, was allegedly desecrated by unidentified miscreants, sparking violent protests by party activists.
They torched a bus as police used teargas to disperse the protestors.
Unidentified persons allegedly smeared mud on the bust of Meenatai, located at Shivaji Park, just a stone's throw from the Sena headquarters in Dadar.
As news of the incident spread, sporadic violence was witnessed in central Mumbai, suburbs and neighbouring Thane district in the afternoon. The Shiv Sainiks also blocked the Aurangabad-Jalna road.
Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray, after visiting the spot, said that the incident was likely to have its "ramifications".
"If derogatory cartoons appearing in a far off Denmark newspaper can have repercussions in India, this incident is bound to have reactions from Shiv Sainiks," he said.
A spontaneous bandh was observed in Chandrapur town in Vidarbha, Dadar and suburbs like Malad and Jogeshwari and Thane city.
Uddhav claimed idols of Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman at a nearby gymnasium were also desecrated. He blamed police for "incompetence", saying that they failed to avert the incident even though a police post existed near the bust of his late mother.
{{/usCountry}}Uddhav claimed idols of Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman at a nearby gymnasium were also desecrated. He blamed police for "incompetence", saying that they failed to avert the incident even though a police post existed near the bust of his late mother.
{{/usCountry}}Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil, who spoke to Uddhav, said, "the Sena executive president had assured him that Shiv Sainiks will help maintain law and order and peace".
Patil said, as per the norms governing erection and maintenance of statues, those responsible for erecting the statue also have the responsibility of maintaining it.