2 Shiv Sainiks held for threat to Navale

July 21: The Cuffe Parade police today arrested two persons and registered a case of rioting against 18 others in connection with the surprise attack on the bungalows of Shiv Sena minister Suresh Navale and former minister Gulabrao Gavande. The arrested were identified as Gajanan Shinde, a former Sena shakhapramukh, and Madhukar Gavand, a Sena activist. Police have also now tightened the security cordon around Mantralaya.

The First Information Report was filed by Cuffe Parade police this morning after Navale lodged a complaint. Deputy commissioner of police (zone I) K L Bishnoi told Express Newsline that more than 200 policemen, including two inspectors and 18 sub-inspectors, have been deployed around the ministers’ bungalows near Mantralaya and the MLA hostel, after senior Sena members were allegedly threatened on Monday.

This is in addition to the two platoons of State Reserve Police already manning strategic points across Mantralaya. The strong posse of armed gunmen, who form part of theministers’ personal security, make the security cover even bigger.

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Office-goers were inconvenienced in the morning and the evening, when the posse of policemen patrolling Madame Cama Road prevented free passage along the footpath adjoining the ministers’ bungalows.

A police officer patrolling the area told this newspaper that there was considerable confusion in the police force, because the cops didn’t know whom to check at a time when the ministers were being targetted by their own partymen.