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ShareMumbai: Shiv Sena activists armed with sticks and bats attacked the office of a TV news channel in Vikhroli on Friday afternoon, injuring 25 people and destroying property worth lakhs.
Nearly 20 Sainiks barged into the IBN Lokmat office at about 4pm, shouting slogans for the Sena and party chief Bal Thackeray, while 30 others waited outside. They damaged furniture, glass partitions, and electronic equipment. Journalists and staff were assaulted.
''We were all working when there was a commotion," said an employee of the channel. "Some 20-30 men barged in and began attacking people. They even assaulted women."
The men created havoc for nearly 45 minutes. Most of them fled before police arrived on the scene. But employees of the channel managed to nab seven of them and handed them over to the police.
Deputy commissioner of police RM Vhatkar said: "The arrested men have been booked for assault and rioting. We are on the lookout for the others."
According to the police, there was no immediate provocation for the attack. But a source said the channel had criticised Thackeray on one of its shows after he attacked Sachin Tendulkar for saying that Mumbai belongs to all Indians.
Promising "stern action" against the hooligans, chief minister Ashok Chavan said: "This shows the Shiv Sena's frustration after losing badly in the assembly elections."
