Mumbai: Five workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were injured in a clash with shopkeepers in Tagore Nagar, Vikhroli, on Sunday evening. The police have arrested two MNS workers and four shopkeepers.
“A group of MNS members was distributing pamphlets urging shopkeepers to display signboards in Marathi. Some of the shopkeepers took objection to it. This led to a clash which turned violent,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Akhilesh Singh, Zone VII.
The injured were taken to Fortis Hospital, Mulund. Two of the five, who have been identified as Harishchandra Dhoke and Devendra Vaity, are unconscious after sustaining head injuries.
MNS workers have also alleged that shopkeepers are affiliated to the Congress.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Monday called an urgent meeting of party leaders in the wake of the Vikhroli attack. According to one of the leaders who attended the meeting, a visibly upset MNS chief warned his leaders to not malign the party’s name by indulging in hooliganism.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam warned the MNS to stop ‘hooliganism’ as it will attract similar reactions. “MNS goons were beaten up again in Vikhroli. We do not believe in violence, but if the MNS continues to push poor hawkers to the wall and that too in front of the police, the action is bound to get some reaction. The MNS must give up on hooliganism, now at least,” said Mr. Nirupam.
