Traffic near the Holy Cross High School, close to the Ganesh immersion venue, was blocked for over three hours following the dharna by the activists, who led the Sriram Ganeshotsav Mandal procession.

According to Dr Sudhir Panade of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, when the procession was going past a place of worship, Senior Police Inspector Nishantdhar abused the activists, roughed them up and made derogatory remarks.

After walking some distance, the procession ground to a halt and the activists began shouting slogans against the police. To add to the tension, two police constables allegedly damaged a drum belonging to the processionists.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Shivaji Gosavi and the mayor tried their level best to quieten the crowd, in vain. The mob wanted an apology from the inspector and an undertaking that no cases will be filedagainst them.