Five held in Mumbai for vandalising Goa-bound buses; suspected associates of Nitesh Rane's NGO

Five persons, suspected to be associated with an NGO led by Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane's son Nitesh, were today arrested for allegedly vandalising four Goa-bound tourist buses in suburban Borivali while protesting against their leader's arrest in Goa, police said.

According to police, a group of people brandishing hockey sticks allegedly smashed the windows and other parts of four parked Neeta Travels buses at Link Road in suburban Borivali in the night yesterday. They also pelted the buses with stones.

Five of the group, allegedly associated with Swabhimaan Sanghatana led by Nitesh, were arrested, an official at MHB Colony police station said, adding that they were enraged with their leader Nitesh's arrest in Goa.

In a related development, four unidentified persons today damaged the name board of Goa Bhawan in suburban Juhu.

Police suspect the assailants could also be linked with the NGO and they carried out the attack protesting Nitesh's arrest in Goa. Nitesh was yesterday arrested along with his three supporters for allegedly vandalising a toll booth and attacking its staffers in Goa. He was released on bail today.