Raj hate campaign spreads

Maharashtra police said the probe into the cases against Raj Thackeray, who targeted “North Indians”, and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi would be taken to their logical conclusion. “I can assure you that the cases will be taken to logical conclusion in days, not months or years,” DGP P S Pasricha told reporters. He said there was no political pressure on the police. “We will not shield anyone,” he said, adding “I would especially urge North Indians not to fall prey to rumours and fears, and to travel freely anywhere in the state.”

In Nashik, MNS activists attacked “North Indian” fruit-vendors and damaged their hand-carts, police said. Some of the hawkers — the majority are from UP — were injured in the incident and were being treated in government hospitals.

Last night, some unidentified persons attacked industrial workers hailing from UP and Bihar. There were reports that the attack were forcing “North Indians” to flee the town but Nashik police commissioner S M Sayeed denied any such exodus.

“There have been 111 arrests in the city, of these 32 are substantial. Three corporators from MNS have been arrested. The remaining ones have been of preventive nature. Prohibitory orders have been issued in the city,” Sayeed said.

Incidents of stone pelting also took place in Jalna, Beed and Latur while two workers were assaulted at a bakery at Chiplun.

In Mumbai itself, five persons were arrested for pelting stones on a BEST bus at Kanjurmarg, while three were arrested for pelting stones at another BEST bus in Goregaon (West). Two taxis were stoned in the Kalachowky area.

In Pune, MNS supporters damaged as many as 70 buses, leaving some commuters and bus drivers injured.

Government vehicles also came under attack at Pune Zilla Parishad in the afternoon. Stones were hurled at a theatre in Kalyani Nagar, a shopping mall in Shivaji Nagar and at a jeweller’s shop in Ganesh Peth.

Shopkeepers and stall owners on Laxmi Road, Tilak Road, Ganj Peth, Timber Market and Shaniwar Peth were forced to down shutters. Stalls of vegetable vendors and bhel-puri sellers were also damaged.

An alert was also sounded at the Pune railway station after police were tipped off that MNS activists were planning to attack trains coming from “North India” but no untoward incident took place. The police control room was flooded with calls as rumours gripped the city. There were calls from schools and colleges for an update on the situation.