July 17, 2000, 13:53 Hrs (IST)
Mumbai: Hundreds of Shiv Sena activists forced shops and schools to close in
Mumbai's northern suburbs on Monday and stopped taxis and trains in protest against
the government decision to prosecute their leader.
It was the third day of protests since the Maharashtra government gave police
permission to prosecute Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray over inflammatory
writings in a party newspaper during clashes in 1992-93 between Hindus and Muslims
that left thousands dead.
Nearly 300 members of the Shiv Sena sat on a railway track at Dombivili in northern
Bombay to halt suburban trains.
They also stopped taxis and autorickshaws. Witnesses said the situation was tense and
more police were on the streets, but there was no violence as most shopkeepers
willingly downed shutters and office workers returned home.
Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said on Monday the government would
proceed with the prosecution of Thackeray.
"You see the law is the same for all...the law will take its own course and the
government is fully prepared to face any eventuality," New Delhi Television quoted
Deshmukh as saying.
Other Links
Thackeray asks party cadres to cool down
Thackeray to be charged in Mumbai riots case
