By IANS
Mumbai/New Delhi : Entire Maharashtra remained on tenterhooks throughout Tuesday over the probable arrest of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, with security forces on a high alert amid sporadic violence in parts of the state.
State Director General of Police (DGP) P.S. Pasricha said investigations in the case against Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s estranged nephew, were “still continuing.”
He was referring to the suo moto case filed by the Mumbai police against Raj Thackeray for promoting enmity between two ethnic groups by using invectives and provocative language against north Indians. A similar case was also filed against Samajwadi Party state chief Abu Asim Azmi.
Pasricha reiterated the government’s stand that it was the “duty of the police to safeguard and protect the north Indians” who were being targeted by MNS activists across the state.
Mumbai Police Commissioner D.N. Jadhav appealed to the people of city and the state to maintain calm and peace and not be influenced by rumours.
Even as the police flexed their muscles against Raj Thackeray, MNS activists went on a rampage in Mumbai and other cities.
Scattered incidents of violence took place in Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Latur, Solapur and Jalgaon where north Indians bore the brunt of the fury of MNS activists.
Closer to Mumbai, MNS activists forcibly shut shops in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan and Dombivali in adjacent Thane district.
In several pockets of Mumbai, the financial heart of India, including Dadar, Lower Parel, Elphinstone, Kurla and other areas where MNS commands strength, shops and business establishments were told to shut down for the day.
In Pune six government buses were damaged with stones and sticks, while in Nashik, 10 state-run buses were attacked. Mobs vandalised shops owned by migrants. About 800 police officials have been deployed to control the situation in the town.
Pune Police Commissioner Jayant Umranikar told IANS: “Although there were incidents of stone pelting in certain places, the situation is under control and the culprits have been arrested.”
He added that the police were patrolling all sensitive and busy places in the city and extra security forces were deployed.
There were reports that migrant workers were leaving the state, particularly Nashik, fearing violence from the MNS, which has intensified its campaign of “Maharashtra for Maharashtrians”.
“Anything is possible and the police all over Maharashtra are prepared for the eventuality,” said a state home ministry official.
So far, 39 MNS activists have been arrested all over the state and 143 more were detained as a precautionary measure, Pasricha said.
In Mumbai, 154 MNS activists and 16 Samajwadi Party supporters were arrested and 479 people were detained, Jadhav said.
Azmi visited the police commissariat with his lawyer Tuesday morning and offered to surrender.
Samajwadi Party Mumbai youth wing president Farooq Ghosi told IANS that the party had appealed to people to maintain peace, as the law will take its own course.
“Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh Monday assured protection to all outsiders, including north Indians, from MNS. The very next day several innocent north Indians were attacked by MNS around the state and no one protected them,” he added.
The MNS tirade against outsiders, specifically north Indians settled in the city, has vitiated the political atmosphere in Maharashtra over the past 10 days.
Strict vigil by Mumbai Police, the Rapid Action Force and riot control police continued outside Raj Thackeray’s house at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai for the second day since the case was filed against him by the Vikhroli police.
But whether or not Thackeray and Abu Asim Azmi of the Samajwadi Party would be arrested is still unclear. With both Chief Minister Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil away from Mumbai, it was unclear when the arrests were likely to be executed.
The home ministry in the national capital asked the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to remain on standby.
“CRPF has been asked to remain on standby after analysing the situation in Maharashtra. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting attended by senior ministry officials,” a home ministry official said.
CRPF officials said directions had been given to units already present in some of the Maharashtra districts.
“They will be roped in to control any violence after the home ministry and Maharashtra’s government orders. At present units are on standby,” the CRPF spokesman told IANS.