Security stepped up at Raj Thackeray's residence

Mumbai, Feb 12: The police today cordoned off 100 m area around the residences of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Asim Azmi following the notice issued yesterday under section 144 to maintain law and order.

The police have cordoned off the residence of Mr Raj at Dadar in north central part of city and that of Mr Azmi at Colaba in south Mumbai since last night. MNS activist Sandeep Deshpande today told to the sources that police was not allowing any party worker to meet their leader. Similarly, SP activists were also not allowed to meet Mr Azmi. An MNS activist told to the sources that Mr Raj was well prepared for ''any action''. Mr Raj was in a relaxed mood last evening, he added.

Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had warned yesterday that stern action would be taken against anywone who violated the law. ''No one is above the law'' he said in a statement and wanted the state to acknowledge the contribution of 'outsiders' to its growth.

UNI