Sena activists indulged in vandalism following reported desecration of the statue of Bal Thackeray’s late wife Meenatai Thackeray.
NASHIK/AURANGABAD: Tension prevailed in many parts of Maharashtra on Sunday as Shiv Sena activists indulged in vandalism following the reported desecration of the statue of party supremo Bal Thackeray’s late wife Meenatai Thackeray by unidentified miscreants.
Police have been put on high alert across the state following the incidents. Shiv Sena activists damaged 75 buses across the state. Three buses were torched in Mumbai, Nashik and Thane.
“Maharashtra has been put on high alert following the protests,” said Maharashtra Director General of police PS Pasricha.
CM Vilasrao Deshmukh, who held an emergency meeting with senior police officials, appealed to Shiv Sena workers to call off their protests and assured them that those responsible for the act would be apprehended.
Significant incidents of violence and arson were reported from Nashik, Akola and Aurangabad while minor protests and isolated incidents were reported from almost every city in the state.
Following protests in Mumbai, Shiv Sainiks in Nashik came out in the streets and pelted stones at moving vehicles. They forced down the shutters in Shalimar, Raviwar Karanja, Gangapur Road and Main Road.
Of the eight districts of the Marathwada region, Nanded was worst affected by the agitation, where about 16 buses were stoned by the agitators. Aurangabad, Osmanabad and Hingoli also witnessed protests.
In Nagpur, police had to resort to lathicharge to disburse a violent mob that was indulging in stone pelting and arson in the Golibar locality.
In Akola, women activists of the Shiv Sena arrived on scooters and set a truck on fire near the Ramlata business centre on National Highway number six.
In Kolhapur, as news of the incident spread, traders downed their shutters. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.
Outside Maharashtra, New Delhi, Varanasi and Ahmedabad witnessed protests over the incident.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil reviewed the situation in Maharashtra. The Centre has directed the state government to handle the situation carefully.
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