MNS chief arrested by Mumbai Police

Mumbai, Oct 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was arrested in the early hours today at Ratnagiri on grounds of provocation and obstructing government officials from discharging duty leading to sporadic violence and arson in various parts of the state.

The arrest came within a day after Mr Thackeray dared the State Government to take action against him as a consequence of MNS activists preventing north Indians from taking a Railway Recruitment Board examination in the city that saw widespread violence on October 19.

Top police officials here said a case has been registered against Thackeray at Kherwadi police station in the western suburb of Bandra for allegedly not allowing North Indian students to appear in Railway Board Examination at Chetna College centre and manhandling them. He was being brought to the city and would be produced before a local court in Bandra.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh defending the action said in a television interview that law would take its own course against Thackeray and the situation was peaceful in the state, barring sporadic incidents. He said adequate arrangements have been made by reinforcing security with reserve police in various parts of the state. He also said a number of MNS activists have also been put behind bars to prevent violence.

More UNI ST/JM VK SSS BDP SSC1023