Mumbai: Tension prevailed in Malad, north Mumbai, on Saturday after a clash between a group of hawkers clashed outside the railway station with MNS workers.
The MNS, since last month’s stampede at Elphinstone Road station, that claimed 23 lives, has announced a campaign against hawkers plying their wares near local stations, blaming them for congestion in and around the area.
According to police sources, a group of MNS workers reached Malad railway station on Saturday afternoon to drive away hawkers who retaliated. One party worker Sushant Malavde, fractured his arm, while three to four other MNS workers were injured. All of them were taken to Jahnvi Hospital in Malad.
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Following the incident, the Malad police sent teams to the spot to conduct inquiries and picked up a few four to five hawkers. in connection with the incident.
“A case of rioting has been registered and arrests will be made soon. Ample bandobast has been imposed in the area,” said Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Deepak Deoraj.
Meanwhile, a second group of workers, including senior MNS leader Sandip Deshpande, reached the spot in the evening and attacked the hawkers. Policemen at the spot intervened and took them to the Malad police station, after which they, too, were booked for rioting.
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“I am being placed under arrest as we speak but we will not take any attack on our party workers sitting down,” Mr. Deshpande told The Hindu late on Saturday night.
The repercussions of the clash were also felt in Dadar, where a group of MNS workers drove hawkers away from outside the station. This was confirmed by senior MNS leader Sandip Deshpande.