Nashik: The anti-migrant violence spread to Nashik and Pune on Tuesday as MNS workers went on a rampage, attacking fruit vendors and shops belonging to North Indians and targeting government properties to vent their anger against the reported move to arrest Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray.
Sporadic violence was reported from Beed and Aurangabad areas as well. There was stone-pelting on state-owned buses in these areas after which some MNS workers were taken into preventive custody.
In Nashik, MNS activists vandalised several shops belonging to north Indians, forcing other shops and business establishments to down their shutters. One shopkeeper was beaten up badly and he had to be admitted to Nashik General Hospital. Banks and schools were promptly shut down after these incidents.
Stone pelting by angry mobs was also reported from the city's Shalimar and Bytco squares. The Satpur and Ambad industrial areas remained closed.
Nashik police has reportedly detained 26 MNS workers after the violence. Six municipal corporators too have been put under preventive arrest.
Additional police pickets have been deployed in various parts of the city, including Shalimar and Ambad Chowk, Satpur, Nashik Road, the MNS head office at Mumbai Naka and some of the city suburbs.
In Pune, MNS workers pelted stones on state-run buses and attacked a few shop-owners in Pune's Laxmi Road area. Shops in the area immediately downed their shutters to avoid similar attacks.
The violence erupted a day after an FIR was registered against Raj Thackeray for inciting violence. Mumbai police sources, however, said the MNS chief will be arrested only after the Centre sends some additional forces.
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