The Hindu : Front Page : Shiv Sena men go on the rampage

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Monday, Jul 10, 2006

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Shiv Sena men go on the rampage

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena men on Sunday went on the rampage in Mumbai and other cities and towns of Maharashtra following the desecration of a statue of Meenatai Thackeray, wife of the Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, in Shivaji Park ground, Dadar. They indulged in arson, stone-throwing and blocking of roads.

Morning walkers noticed that the statue was smeared with mud. The local Sena leaders, including the former Lok Sabha Speaker, Manohar Joshi, were informed. Soon the Shiv Sena Executive president Uddhav Thackeray and others arrived.

A large number of Shiv Sainiks gathered and blocked vehicular traffic as their leaders cleaned the statue. Soon the protests took the form of arson. A private luxury bus was set afire and the arsonists forced closure of shops.

The trouble spread to other suburbs, including Mahim, Matunga, Worli, Andheri, Bandra, Mulund, Kandivali, Ghatkopar and Parel. The Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) withdrew its bus services in the city.

The news reached other cities and towns of the State, including Thane, Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nanded and Chandrapur. Shops were stoned and roads blocked. The police burst teargas shells at several places.

Addressing a gathering at the statue, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray warned of a strong reaction in the State and the country if the culprits were not caught in 24 hours. He said the police had become inactive and the Government failed to maintain law and order.

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