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MNS targets Sanjay Nirupam |
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By: Kranti Vibhute |
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Date:
2008-10-21 |
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Place: Mumbai |
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We want justice: Angry Congress workers staged a raasta roko at Andheri in protest of the attack on Sanjay Nirupam's office last night. (below) Workers pulled down an MNS hoarding in retaliation at Andheri. pics/sameer markande |
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| While Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray was arrested early this morning in Ratnagiri, his party activists unleashed a fresh round of fury on taxi drivers in the city. Incidents of sporadic attacks on North Indian taxi drivers in areas like Mumbai Central, Parel, Worli, Tardeo, Vile Parle, Andheri, Juhu and Mulund continued through the night.
A signboard near Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam's office was damaged and a toll collection booth at Mulund toll naka was torched by MNS activists.
In one of the major attacks, nearly 25 taxis were damaged outside Navjeevan Society, Tardeo. Mahesh Kumar (35), a taxi driver from Mumbai Central, said, "A bike rider approached my taxi and enquired about my native place. When I told him I was from UP, he slapped me and smashed the windscreen of my taxi with an iron rod."
Another taxi driver, Kedar Prasad Yadav, added, "I came to Mumbai to earn for my family. How can anyone work here in this state of anarchy?"
Shiv Balak Gupta (42), a fruit vendor at Mumbai Central, and his son Surendra Gupta (23) were attacked by a group of bike riders.
"Around midnight, five boys came on bikes and attacked us with iron rods. They kept abusing us and our native place. I sustained injuries on my hand, while my son was hit on the head," Gupta said.
Surendra was rushed to Nair Hospital where he received three stitches on his head.
Shirish Parkar, MNS spokesperson denied the party's involvement in the incident. He said, "I don't know who have damaged the taxis in Mumbai. Our MNS activists have not damaged any property. |
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