Raj, Asmi arrested, violence erupts; one killed

Mumbai, Feb 13 (UNI) One person was killed in Nashik in fresh violence in the state following Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's arrest in Mumbai today even as Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil asserted that the state police was fully prepared to tackle the situation.

Both Mr Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party Leader Abu Asim Azmi who was also arrested, were released on bail on a personal bond of Rs15,000 and Rs.10,000 respectively in two different courts. Mr Thackeray appeared before metropolitan magistrate B K Sharma while Mr Azmi was produced before metropolitan magistrate R B Agarwal Ending the prolonged suspense, the Mumbai police arrested Mr Thackeray and Mr Azmi this afternoon. Police had registered FIRs against the two leaders Sunday last for making provocative speeches.

While Mumbai was relatively calm, the violence was more intense in Nashik and a Hindustan Aeronautics employee, Ambadas Dharrao (50) was killed in heavy stone pelting on a company bus. One more person was injured in that incident.

Para-military forces have been deployed in sensitive areas across the state.

In Nashik, there was a self-imposed ''bandh'' since morning as shop-keepers had preferred to down their shutters for the day.

Similar was the case in the metropolis where many office-goers had preferred to stay back home fearing a backlash in the event of Mr Thackeray's arrest.

NASSCOM, however, held its leadership summit here in Mumbai with over 2000 delegates from within and outside the country participating in the event.

Stone pelting incidents were reported from different parts of the state with the civic and state transport buses bearing the brunt of the attacks.

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