MNS disrupts cultural programme on Republic Day

The activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) that has been targeting North Indians, attacked a school in Nashik where a cultural programme was underway.

The programme was organised in the municipal corporation's school at Satpur suburban area of Nashik. Assuming that the organisers were playing Bhojpuri songs to celebrate Uttar Pradesh Diwas (UP Day), the MNS workers staged a demonstration and raised slogans.

Later they stormed into the school, pelted stones, beat up the participants and also set afire the carpets. They also threw the tent and broke the school gate. There was a scuffle between the MNS workers and the organisers.

The violent incident has occurred after a gap of almost two months. The MNS and its chief Raj Thackeray were lying low after the Mumbai terrorist attack. Earlier, they had targeted North Indians, especially immigants from UP and Bihar.

Several persons had even died in the anti-immigrant violence across the Maharashtra. After today's incident, the police have arrested some of the MNS workers involved in the attack and registered criminal case against them.

TIH Bureau