Raj Thackeray likely to be arrested

Mumbai, Feb 11: The city police today registered a case against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Asim Azmi for inciting violence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Dattatraya Karale told UNI over phone that a case was registered against Raj Thackeray at the Vikhroli police station while a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against Abu Asim Azmi at Shivaji Park police station. Mr Karale said the two leaders have been booked under sections 153, 153(a) and 153(b) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The action was initated after the approval of the Home Department in this regard. Both the leaders had allegedly made inflammatory speeches during the last week which had led to rioting in the city. Mr Azmi had allegedly said that nearly 20,000 people will be brought into Maharashtra from Uttar Pradesh and will be distributed ''Lathis''.

In retaliation, Mr Thackeray had said that if they will distribute ''lathis'', then MNS will distribute swords. Later, the MNS activists had allegedly beaten up North Indians just before the Samajwadi Party rally at Shivaji Park a week ago.

UNI