Clamour for 'spy' Kulbhushan Jadhav's release grows louder in city

A group of activists, having an alleged allegiance to the Maharashtra Navnirmal Sena (MNS), barged into a store in Palladium Mall at High Street Phoenix, Lower Parel on Tuesday afternoon to protest against the death sentence given to former Indian naval officer Kulbhushan Jadav in Pakistan, and against the store which had allegedly been supporting brands from Pakistan.

According to the mall's security guards, a group of 15 men barged into the Zara store at about 1pm on Tuesday through the back door. "They entered the store, picked up clothes from the racks and threw them on the ground.

They also shouted "Made in Pakistan!" before throwing them to the floor," an employee at Zara claimed, adding that the group later exited from the store.

The store's employees did not retaliate as they feared a backlash. None of the other items in the store were vandalised. The store's employees and customers were unharmed.

"MNS activists created a commotion at the Zara store. We have arrested 10 people on charges of unlawful assembly," said Pravinkumar Padwal, Deputy Commissioner of Police, zone III.

The city's dabbawalas, on the other hand, staged a non-violent protest at Lower Parel station on Tuesday, demanding Jadhav's release. Subhash Talekar, spokesperson for the Mumbai Dabbawala Association, said, "We want the Centre to ensure the release of Kulbhushan Jadhav. He has been wrongfully detained by Pakistan."

Vitthal Sawant, a dabbawala, said, "We will protest again after a few days if the Centre does not heed our demand."