Assam politicians orchestrated Mumbai violence: Investigators

Investigators have revealed a shocking story behind the extraordinary mayhem in Mumbai.

Role of some Assam politicians is being probed for the weekend violence in Mumbai as investigators opined that the agitation was orchestrated rather than being spontaneous.

Government officials said the investigators were sure that the hooliganism was organised by certain people with vested interests and there was a strong possibility of some people from outside Mumbai being behind it.

Probe agencies have found that those who indulged in violence were brought to the spot in hired buses and were armed with lathis,sickles and other instruments.

Story continues below this ad

“There were clear indications that some people came to the protest venue only to create disturbances. Those who were arrested are being interrogated and we are sure that the truth will come out soon,” an official said.

Investigators believed that Raza Academy,the organiser of Saturday’s protest in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan,may not have links with the violent mob,which came to the venue in the garb of protesters.

Two persons were killed and many injured when a protest in Mumbai’s Azad Maidan against Assam riots and attacks on Muslims in Myanmar turned violent on Saturday with demonstrators torching vehicles and pelting stones,prompting the police to fire in the air to disperse them.

Mumbai mayhem:Raj Thackeray accuses govt of vote bank politics

Story continues below this ad

Nashik: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray today alleged that the state government was “backing” the rioters who went on a rampage in South Mumbai after the rally organised by Raza Academy at Azad Maidan there on Saturday turned violent.

“This is surprising that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil are appealing to rioters to stay calm. Are they backing them (rioters)? How could the protest on Assam riots be allowed to be held in Mumbai whereas our agitation against toll nakas was crushed by the government?” Raj said.

The MNS chief today kicked off his two-day visit to the city to take stock of the works done by the corporators of his party ruling the municipal corporation.

Two persons were killed in police firing and as many as 55 people,including 46 policemen,were injured when the rally organised by the Raza Academy in South Mumbai on August 11 turned violent with the protesters torching vehicles,pelting stones and damaging buses.

Story continues below this ad

Raj discussed the civic issues plaguing the city with civic chief Sanjay Khandare.

Day after Diwali, Delhi’s air quality remains ‘very poor’

Cities2 min ago

Delhi's air quality worsens after Diwali, with an average AQI of 346 at 5:30 am. Despite the ban on green crackers, 36 out of 38 monitoring stations showed "very poor" to "severe" pollution levels, with four stations recording severe air quality. Dwarka was the most affected area.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS