SC issues notice to Maha against MNS attacks on N Indians

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notice to State of Maharashtra on a PIL seeking adequate protection to the lives and properties of the North Indians in the State, where they are being subjected to violent attacks by the MNS goons, led by Raj Thackeray.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices P Sathasivam and J M Panchal, however, dismissed another petition, seeking judicial inquiry into the alleged fake encounter of Rahul Raj by the Mumbai Police and also into the killing of Dharam Dev Rai allegedly by the MNS goons while travelling in a local train.

The apex court issued notices only to the State on the PIL filed by one Salek Chand Jain, who had sought directions to the State to provide adequate protection to the North Indians.

It did not issue notices to the Union Government and the State of Bihar.

The same bench, however, refused to entertain a petition filed by an advocate Sanjiv Kumar Singh, who had prayed for the arrest of MNS chief Raj Thackeray under the National Security Act.

He had also pleaded that such regional and divisive forces were posing a grave threat to national security and integrety.

The petition filed by Mr Jain has highlighted several incidents of criminal assault on North Indians, especially on the Biharis.

On October 18, candidates from North India, who had gone to appear in a Railway Department selection test for jobs were brutally assaulted by the MNS goons, following which there was a huge public outcry against such illegal and unconstitutional acts of and there were allegations against the Vilasrao Deshmukh government that it was conniving with Raj Thackeray and his goons.

A lot of damage was caused to trains and public property by the students in Bihar, following the death of one Pawan Kumar who was allegedly beaten up on October 18.

UNI SC SBC RP GC1955