Fifteen persons detained in Kalyan, Ulhasnagar

Mumbai, Dec 1 (UNI) Police today rounded up 15 persons from Ulhasnagar and Kalyan townships in the neigbouring Thane district in connection with incidents of stone-pelting during the violence over the last two days over the descration of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's statue at Kanpur, even as an uneasy calm prevailed in Mumbai city and its suburbs.

The 15 persons -- five in Ulhasnagar and 10 in Kalyan -- have been detained by the police for disturbing peace, law and order regulations imposed by the police in Thane, police sources said.

Meanwhile, the metropolis and its suburbs saw a normal day with many people commuting on the transit system and buses.

In a bid to maintain law and order, additional companies of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been deployed at various sensitive points in the city and the national highway to avoid any further untoward incidents, police said.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who cancelled his Singapore visit mid-way, said that the task of conducting a detailed probe into the torching of the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen yesterday, has been entrusted to the Additional Director-General of Police (DGP) (Law&Order) Sanjeev Dayal.

Mr Deshmukh, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Director General of Police (DGP) Dr P S Pasricha and Chief Secretary Shankaran, told mediapersons that no casualties were reported, when the five coaches of the Deccan Queen and three coaches of a local train were allegedly set ablaze by an irate mob.

He added that the police have arrested four suspects in connection with the torching of the train. In all, 310 government vehicles including police vehicles and state-owned buses, besides 250 private vehicles were damaged in yesterday's violence.

As a precautionary measure, police have detained 2,000 people in a bid to contain the violence, the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police (Nagpur) denied the Republican Party of India (RPI) permission to hold a rally.

Responding to a query, Mr Patil said the permission has been denied due to security reasons.

UNI GVS/PVN PK HT2100