“Video footage suggests that the flames started inside, so we are also probing whether it could have been caused by a short circuit,” said Joint Commissioner (Police) Arup Patnaik after discussions with local policemen at the Shivaji Park Police chowki. “Our priority is to quell the disturbances and maintain order.”

The police said they still had no leads on the incident that sparked off the day’s disturbances.

A senior official from the Shivaji Park Police Station said that around 5.30 am, on its early morning round, the police squad—known as the Good Morning Squad—had done a routine check on the statue.

Said Senior Inspector Shashikant Chatur: “There was no desecration then, so this probably happened between then and 6-6.30 am before there’s activity on the streets. Our control room received a call at about 8.30 am complaining about the desecration.”

Sena reaction natural, but it has to stop, says Deshmukh

• Vilasrao Deshmukh, CM: This is an emotional reaction, very natural. But we have to restore law and order. Sena leaders should urge their followers to maintain peace

• R R Patil, Dy CM: We strongly condemn this act (of desecration), it’s a deliberate attempt to divide two communities. But taking to the streets and creating law and order problems would only serve the designs of anti-social elements

• Uddhav Thackeray, Sena executive president: This is a grave insult to all of us and we won’t tolerate it. We strongly condemn this and want the government to trace the culprits immediately

... contd.