Curfew clamped in Khoparkhairne as violence escalates in Navi Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 18 (UNI) Curfew was clamped in Khoparkhairne police station area today as violence spread in the satellite town of Navi Mumbai with mobs fighting pitched battles with the State Reserve Police (SRP) and the Rapid Action Force (RAF).

After an overnight assault on Nerul police station and attack at Rabale police station this afternoon, villagers stormed the township of Koparkhairne, forcing police to resort to lathi charge and use tear gas shells to disperse the violent mobs.

The mob burned at least two motorcycles and damaged several vehicles when they rampaged through Khoparkhairne, witnesses said.

Alarmed at the esclating violence, authorities clamped curfew to bring the situation under control at Khoparkhairne this afternoon, police sources said.

Angry crowd also attacked the residence of Excise Minister and Guardian Minister of Navi Mumbai Ganesh Naik for his ''failure'' to calm down the situation following the eve-teasing incident during the Holi revelry on Wednesday, resulting in police firing the next day which claimed two lives. One person had died in group clashes and 75 others, including several policemen, were wounded.

Mobs clashed repeatedly with police, pelting them with stones at Teen Taki square and at super store at Khoparkhairne, witnesses added.

The rampaging crowd also held up the traffic on the Mumbai-Pune highway at Sanpada for some time before the police reached there.

The electronic media had a tough time covering the violence as police had to repulse repeated attacks on OB (Outside Broadcasting) vans parked near the Khorparkhairne police post.

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