Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Mumbai was largely peaceful though there were sporadic incidents of violence and arson in the city following the arrest of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray Wednesday.
“Shopkeepers in central Mumbai and some parts of north Mumbai downed their shutters anticipating stone pelting, as these areas have MNS pockets,” Mumbai Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) K.L. Prasad told IANS.
“However, right now I am moving in Matunga and King Circle and all shops are open and business is going on as usual,” he said.
Matunga and King Circle are in north-central Mumbai, which has a sizeable population of south Indians.
He said till late Wednesday evening, “no cases of arson were reported either on the police wireless or even by the fire brigade.”
“We are planning to send SMSs to mobile telephony users advising all not to get carried away by rumours.”
Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi, the state president of the Samajwadi Party, were Wednesday afternoon arrested on charges of inciting hatred among ethnic groups.
The arrests followed days of violence starting Feb 3 when Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, hit out at north Indians calling them “outsiders” in Mumbai. This provoked clashes with Azmi’s supporters.
Both were later released on bail.
Most of the city remained unruffled and business went on as usual with offices closing as per their routine.
Cases of stone pelting were reported mostly from the largely residential northwest parts of Mumbai. The suburbs of Goregaon, Malad, Kandivli and Borivli witnessed cases of stone throwing and arson.
According to eyewitnesses from Goregaon, MNS activists attempted to set ablaze a shop, while in Dahisar a truck was set on fire.
In northeast suburb of Mumbai-Chembur, cases of stone pelting were reported and rumours made rounds that arsonists were having a field day.