It wasn’t just the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray that used the Marathi card yesterday during his protest riot at Girgaum Chowpatty. Understanding the importance of the community card, Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik used the Marathi card to his advantage yesterday by deploying senior police officers belonging to the Marathi ethnicity on the ground to pacify the crowds should things get ugly at the MNS protest rally.

Khaki sea: In addition to 2,800 constables, 450 women constables and 250 RPF constables, four SRPF platoons, three Rapid Action Force platoons, one RPF platoon and half of a gas squad were deployed to ensure peace and order during the protest rally at Girgaum Chowpatty. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar