Violence rocked parts of Mumbai on Sunday as Shiv Sainiks protested against the desecration of a statue of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's wife.
Updated at 7 pm
MUMBAI: Violence rocked parts of Mumbai on Sunday as Shiv Sainiks protested against the alleged desecration of a statue of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's wife, the late Meenatai, at Shivaji Park.
Violence was reported from Dadar, Jogeshwari, Malad, Worli and other areas in Mumbai. Two buses were set ablaze.
The police claimed the situation was under control as reports came in of a shutdown in many parts of the city.
Parts of the Western Express Highway were blocked by Sainiks.
There were also reports of violence in Nashik, Pune and Thane.
The Bharatiya Janata Party said it would raise the issue in the Maharashtra Assembly on Monday.
Police Commissioner AN Roy said the situation was under control and any attempt of violence would be dealt with firmly.
Two idols of Lord Ganesh and Lord Hanuman at a gymnasium, near the desecrated bust of Meenatai at Shivaji Park, were also defiled.
Shiv Sainiks at Shivaji Park set a luxury bus on fire as police used teargas to control the protests.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena led by Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj joined the Sena workers in the protests.
Stone-pelting on suburban trains was reported from Vikhroli and Kandivali, while rail traffic was blocked at Dadar.
Vehicles were damaged on the Western Express highway and in neighbouring Thane city and Kalyan.
Public transport vehicles were torched in Nashik, Chandrapur, Satara and Kolhapur.
A report from Akola said a truck laden with onions was set on fire and three state transport buses were stoned, allegedly by irate Shiv Sainiks.
A truck laden with onions was set on fire at Ramalata business centre on National Highway 6.
The activists also stoned three state transport buses, police said adding, three Shiv Sena activists were taken into custody.
Roadblocks were staged at Barshitakli and Akot towns, from where 42 and 15 activists were arrested.
Police have beefed up security at various places in the town, sources added.
In Aurangabad, about 300 Shiv Sainiks were detained in connection with stone-pelting, police said.
The Sainiks pelted stones at Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation buses at Kranti Chowk, Waluj and Mukundwadi, Commissioner of Police Uddhav Kamble told mediapersons.
Barring the stone-throwing, the situation is under control in the city, Kamble said, adding that "police have beefed up security in several parts of the city to avoid untoward incidents."
Earlier, over 1000 Sena activists staged roadblocks at Kranti Chowk and Waluj in protest against the desecration of the statue.
-- With inputs from agencies
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