Mumbai limps back to normal, over 1800 arrested so far

Asked about the extent of damage to property in the city, Prasad said: “While the actual loss in terms of money might be relatively small, the incidents of the past few days have resulted in an incalculable loss in other terms. People who were planning to invest in the city, and further its development, will now think twice before doing so. This is a much greater loss.”

According to the police, a total of 29 cases, including 15 cases of rioting, were registered on Wednesday in sporadic incidents of violence across the city. A total of 144 persons were arrested in these cases.

On Wednesday, 612 persons were arrested across the city in substantive cases as well as preventive arrests, while 260 persons were arrested under preventive sections on Thursday.

“Since February 3, when the whole issue started, more than 1,800 people have been arrested in the city. Workers of the SP were booked in substantive cases only on the first day when they reacted to some violence. About 10 per cent of the arrests are of SP workers,” said Prasad.

Stating that the media and news channels in particular were responsible for creating a state of fear and anxiety amongst citizens by repeatedly showing old footage of violence in the city, Prasad said: “I will call a meeting of all senior functionaries in news channels and in the print media. If some of them do not come to meet me, I will go to them.”