Government decides to get tough on rioters

Mumbai, Dec 1 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who air dashed to Mumbai cutting short his Singapore visit in the wake of wide-spread violence that has rattled the state, today 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 (Law&Order) Sanjeev Dayal.

Mr Deshmukh was briefing mediapersons here in the presence of Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, Director General of Police P S Pasricha and Chief Secretary Mr Shankaran.

Five coaches of the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen and three coaches of a local train were allegedly set ablaze yesterday, by an irate mob protesting against the desecration of a bust of the Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on Tuesday. However, no casualties were reported in the incident.

Police have arrested four suspects in this connection.

Mr Deshmukh said 310 government vehicles including police vehicles and state-owned buses, besides 250 private vehicles were damaged in yesterday's violence.

Police have detained 2,000 people in a bid to contain the violence, Mr Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, Nagpur police commissioner today denied permission to the Republican Party of India (RPI), who had planned to take out a morcha to the Vidhan Bhavan on December 4 in Nagpur.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Mr Patil, who is also holds home portfolio, justified the denial by saying that the permission has been denied due to security reasons.

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