The Hindu : Front Page : Police register cases against Raj Thackeray, Abu Azmi

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Police register cases against Raj Thackeray, Abu Azmi

Arunkumar Bhatt

Shops, eating houses in Shirdi attacked
In Mumbai, Sainiks blacken boards at airport

MUMBAI: The police have registered cases against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi under IPC Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots), IPC Section 153 A (promoting enmity between groups on the basis of place of birth, residence, etc.) and IPC Section 153 B (imputations, assertions, prejudicial to national integration).

Joint Commissioner of Police, K.L. Prasad said the charges were cognisable and non-bailable. The accused would be required to seek bail from the court. He refused to say when they would be arrested and maintained that investigations were on.

Both leaders declared that they would not seek bail. While an MNS spokesman said Mr. Thackeray was ready to face action for the sake of Marathis, Mr. Azmi said he was in his office and not making any move to get anticipatory bail.

Mr. Azmi said the offences registered against Mr. Thackeray were too mild. He wanted the police to book the MNS leader for rioting.

Last week, north Indians were attacked after Mr. Thackeray took exception to the celebration of Uttar Pradesh Day and “Chhat Puja” here. The SP leader retaliated, saying he would arm north Indians with “lathis.”

On Monday, about 200 activists of the Shiv Sena attacked shops and eating houses in the pilgrim centre of Shirdi and smashed the sign boards written in Tamil and Telugu. The police arrested 40 of them.

Sena leader Baba Dhumal said the establishments had non-Marathi boards despite a government order. An official said the shops were told to have boards with names in Marathi, followed by other languages.

In Mumbai, Sainiks blackened the boards at the airport announcing, “Mumbai International Airport Ltd. Welcomes You.” Their argument was that a private company could not welcome passengers and the welcome signs should be in the name of the city.

PTI reports:

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the government was committed to protecting people from outside the State and no one would be allowed to take the law into his own hands.

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