JOIN USIn what could have turned into a bloody clash between two arch rivals — the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, in front of the Collectorate Office in south Mumbai on Thursday, quick deployment of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and State Reserve Police (SRP) ensured the would-be rioters made a quiet exit.
Members of the two parties, which have been indulging in a mud-slinging match for a while, came face-to-face at the Mumbai Collectorate Office where candidates from the city have to file their nominations. Hundreds of supporters, waving flags of their respective parties and shouting out slogans in favour of their candidates — Arvind Sawant (SS) and Aditya Shirodkar (MNS), soon started heckling and jostling each other.
Police action
A free-for-all ensued between the party workers, with stones and soda water bottles flying in the air. A news channel lensman sustained injuries after being hit by a bottle.
Realising that the situation was getting out of control, an SOS was flashed, and RAF and SRP personnel rushed to the site. Within no time, the crowd dispersed.
The police later said that 50 people were detained while fleeing from the spot after indulging in stone-pelting. The two party leaders, while talking to the press separately, blamed the Election Commission and each other for the riot-like situation.