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‘Illegal’ roadside stalls in Naya Nagar area of Thane district which witnessed a communal clash two days back were razed by the civic body using bulldozers, officials said.
According to PTI. A huge contingent of police personnel, including a Rapid Action Force (RAF) team, was deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.
Notably, the action by the Mira Bhaindar Municipal Corporation to demolish the ‘illegal’ roadside stalls came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, warned of strict action against rioters.
Videos of the razing of the stalls have gone viral on social media.
“Illegal” constructions were demolished using bulldozers in Mumbai’s adjacent Mira Road area, where the situation has been tense since Sunday following the clash between two communities after a procession was taken out to mark the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Heavy security has been deployed in the Naya Nagar area of Mira Road, with Mumbai Police, Palghar Police, Thane Rural Police, RAF (Rapid Action Force), MSF (Maharashtra Security Force) and state reserve police force (SRPF) patrolling the area.
A mob armed with iron rods, sticks, and bats shouted religious slogans and assaulted the man whose car was part of the procession comprising three vehicles and 10 two-wheelers, police had said. They vandalised the car with stones and sticks.
Police registered a case of attempt to murder against 50-60 persons and took 13 of them in custody, according to the police official.
Mumbai Police has issued orders banning the assembly of five or more persons and processions in the city till February 6 on information about the likelihood of breach of peace.
Notably, Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has announced to stage massive protests in Mumbai from January 26 with his thousands of supporters who are on their way to the state capital.
Jarange has demanded the issuance of a blanket Kunbi (OBC) caste certificate to all Marathas.
According to a police official, the order banning the assembly of people and processions was issued on Monday by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act after the information received about the likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquillity, danger to human lives and loss of property.
The order came into force on Tuesday and will remain valid for the next 15 days, he said.
Any assembly of five or more persons, any procession of people, and the use of loudspeakers, (sound) amplifying instruments, musical bands, and bursting of crackers in any procession by the assembly is prohibited, as per the order.
Assemblies and processions may be permitted by the Zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police and their supervisory officers are exempted from the prohibition.
Any investigation or legal proceedings may be instituted, continued, or enforced during the period, the order stated.
Any penalty, forfeiture of punishments incurred in respect of any contravention of this order may be imposed as if the order had not expired, it stated further.
