Saturday, March 18 2006 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Violence continued unabated at Navi Mumbai where angry crowds thrashed policemen at Nerul police station last night and stormed Rabale police station this afternoon in connection with the ongoing clashes between natives and porters in this satellite town of Mumbai.

The agitation which started as a tiff between residents of Ghansoli village and 'Mathadi' workers (porters) on the alleged molestation of a village girl on the Holi festival has now spread to adjoining villages, police said.

Protest against Mathadis was reported at Koparkhairane, Turbhe, Juhu and Nerul villages in Navi Mumbai yesterday and today, with the stir now taking shape of a conflict between native villagers and outsiders over deprivation of employmentopportunities to the natives, they added.

Last night, natives of Nerul in Navi Mumbai stormed the local police station and thrashed three constables, leading to a lathi charge by cops late in the night.

This afternoon, a mob of over 2000 persons damaged private and media vehicles near Koparkhairane police chowky of Rabale police station leading to one more cane charge on agitators, police sources further said.

Navi Mumbai police control room authorities told sources that sporadic incidents of violence were continuing, but there was no major violent incident. The RAF and the state reserve police have been positioned in trouble-hit spots, they added.