Raj Thackeray arrested in Ratnagiri, MNS on rampage
Mumbai,
Oct
21:
MNS
declares
Bandh
in
Mumbai.
Shops
in
Navi
Mumbai,
Vashi
shut
down.
Violence
in
Boriwali,
shops
forcefully
closed
down.
Plight
of
vehicles
minimal
in
State.
Just
In
03:45
PM
10/21/2008
Police
issues
gag
order
against
Raj
Thackeray.
Ban
on
Raj
taking
processions
for
two
months,
also
he
cannot
address
public
gathering.
MNS
activists
took
to
stone
pelting
near
Bandra
court
and
police
resorted
to
lathicharge
to
control
the
situation.
Police
restricted
reporters
from
covering
legal
proceedings.
Reports
say
hops
set
on
fire
in
Vashi.
Schools
in
western
Mumbai
area
closed.
Police
also
arrested
Raj
Thackeray's
close
aid
Bal
Nandagaonkar
from
Vashi.
Meanwhile
Raj
is
taken
for
medical
examination.
01:54
PM
10/21/2008
Maharashtra
Navnirman
Sena
(MNS)
activists
were
beaten-up
by
Police
in
front
of
the
Bandra
court
in
Mumbai
as
they
attempted
to
enter
the
court
premises,
where
the
arrested
leader
Raj
Thackeray
was
to
be
produced
for
remand.
Reports
say
that
two
media
persons
are
injured
in
the
violence
in
front
of
the
Bandra
court.
12:26
PM
10/21/2008
Mumbai, Oct 21: Raj Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief was arrested on Tuesday, Oct 21 early morning in Ratnagiri near Mumbai in connection with brutal attack on North Indian railway exam candidates by MNS workers on Sunday, Oct 19.
A case was registered in this connection against Raj Thackeray and his supporters at a North-West suburban police station of Kharwadi, after MNS workers attacked 13 railway board examination centres in suburban Mumbai to protest against 'inadequate representation' to Marathi people. Raj Thackeray was on tour in western Maharashtra and Konkan region when he was arrested. He will be produced in Bandra court in Mumbai later in the day. The arrest of the MNS chief comes against the backdrop of mounting pressure on the Maharashtra Government to rein in Raj Thackeray and his activists.
On Monday, Oct 20 Raj Thackeray dared Maharashtra Cheif Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to arrest him and he also justified the attack on North Indians carried out by his party. Meanwhile Chief Minister said that Police have taken right action. Most of the MNS activists are arrested. He also said that MNS gundagiri and violence will not be tolerated. He claimed that life is normal in Mumbai.
According to initial reports, the charges against Raj Thackeray are one under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. MNS workers launched an all out attack against the students who were appearing for a railway examination.
Reports suggest that he was arrested under Section 336 of the IPC for an act endangering life or personal safety of others, by attacking North Indians. Raj Thackeray has also been reportedly arrested under Sec 425 and 427 for mischief causing damage.
Inspite of heavy police deployment Raj's arrest have sparked violence in Mumbai. MNS workers forcibly shut down shops and allegedly burnt an auto-rickshaw in Mumbai's western suburb of Boriwali. Even before the news of the arrest came through, MNS activists went on a rampage. More than 30 taxis were destroyed at various locations in Parel and Mumbai Central. Report says that a checkpost in Mulund was also set afire by MNS activists. Seven buses are attacked in Pune.
Police
sources
said
that
situation
is
under
control.
Security
forces
are
brought
to
Mumbai
as
a
precautionary
measures.
Polce
have
also
detained
hundreds
of
MNS
workers
from
across
the
state.
Five
hundred
people
alone
are
held
in
Mumbai.
09:10
AM
10/21/2008
OneIndia News