Cops urge Sena to restrain workers

Mumbai police have urged the Shiv Sena to restrain its workers from crowding near Lilavati hospital, where party executive president Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to undergo an angioplasty today.

Mumbai police have urged the Shiv Sena to restrain its workers from crowding near Lilavati hospital, where party executive president Uddhav Thackeray is scheduled to undergo an angioplasty today.

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Pratap Dighavkar, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), zone 9, said: “The appeal has been made to ensure that the functioning of the hospital does not get disrupted.”

Sources in the zonal police claimed that a similar appeal has been made to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leadership. MNS leaders and cadres are likely to throng the hospital as their party chief and Uddhav’s cousin, Raj Thackeray, will also be present at the spot.

Earlier in the week, on hearing about Uddhav’s hospitalisation, Raj had cancelled his plan in Alibaug. After inquiring about Uddhav’s health, he also drove him to his residence at Matoshree.

Nisar Tamboli, spokesperson for Mumbai police, said adequate security deployment and traffic arrangements would be made in and around the hospital during the day. The security arrangement is likely to restrict movement within the hospital. “Apart from hospital staff, relatives of patients will have to show some identity proof and requirement before entering the hospital,” Tamboli said.

Photographers, too, would be barred from entering the premises. Brijesh Singh, additional commissioner of police, traffic, said the local traffic establishment has been asked to put up barricades and regulate traffic. Security arrangements will be in place till Uddhav is discharged.

Raj likely to be by Uddhav’s side
Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray will undergo an angioplasty at the Lilavati hospital today. Thackeray will be hospitalised for about two to four days, depending on his recovery, said doctors.

A team of doctors will be led by cardiologist Dr Matthew Samuel Kalarickal, who performed an angioplasty on Sena chief Bal Thackeray in 2009.

Sena sources said Uddhav’s cousin MNS chief Raj Thackeray called upon the Thackerays at Matoshree to inquire about the surgery.

Sena chief Bal Thackeray is said to have asked him to be by Uddhav’s side during the procedure as he himself is indisposed and grandson Aditya is too young to handle such situations.