FIR registered against Raj Thackeray

Mumbai, Feb 4: Samajwadi Party (SP) General Secretary Amar Singh has lodged a complaint of threatening against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President (MNS) Raj Thackeray here.

The Azad Maidan police said here, today that a complaint u/s 506 (2) (threatening) and 34 (Comman Intention) against Mr Thackeray and MNS activists had been registered, late last night. Mr Singh stated that Mr Thackeray had threatened him and ''North Indians'' with dire consequences and abused them. More than 25 MNS activists were arrested, since last night for an alleged offence of 'riot,' police said. The MNS activists had allegedly turned violent yesterday and attacked a few North-Indian members, who have migrated from their city here.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Uttar Pradesh Vikas Parishad President Munna Tripathi said ''He will meet State Home Minister R R Patil at 1700 hours today demanding immediate arrest of Raj Thackeray, if Government failed to take action against Thackeray, he will go on fast until death from tomorrow at Azad Maidan.'' It may be recalled that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, last night directed the State Director General of Police (DGP) Dr P S Pasricha and Mumbai Police Commissioner D N Jadhav to probe the violence that erupted in the state following the alleged remarks made by MNS chief Raj Thackeray against the North Indian community.

He said ''Violence against any community will not be tolerated, be it on migrants or on any others. And if, anybody indulges in such an act, strict action will be taken against the culprits, whoever they are.''

UNI