Shiv Sena men pelt stones at Sanjay Nirupam

As many as 20 Shiv Sena workers, including Captain Abhijit Adsul, a former MLA, were arrested and later released on bail by the Samta Nagar police of Kandivali (east) on Saturday late night for hurling pebbles in a rally in which Mumbai Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam was present.

The police said another 50 people were also wanted in the stone-pelting incident and it was on the look-out for them.

The party workers allegedly hurled stones, eggs and tomatoes at Mr Nirupam’s rally in Kandivali (east) as the Congress leader had lodged a case against a Sena leader in a south Mumbai police station.

Senior police inspector Dilip Yadav of Samta Nagar police station said the accused were released immediately as the offence was bailable.

On Saturday evening around 7.45 pm, Mumbai Congress president Mr Nirupam was present at a cultural function organised by local corporator Ram Ashish Gupta in the Fonseca compound.

During the programme, few Shiv Sena party workers allegedly reached the spot and started shouting slogans. They were protesting against Mr Nirupam for approaching the Azad Maidan police station against Uddhav Thackeray.

During the protest, Sena workers allegedly hurled small pebbles, tomatoes and eggs on Mr Nirupam, also hurting two to three people.

Police officials who were present at the spot, tried to stop the party workers but were unable to do so. Later, the police called in reinforcement and then a case was registered around 12.30 am (late Friday night) at Samta Nagar police station.

Mr Nirupam in his statement said he was not afraid of Sena’s action and would keep the ‘BMC Pol Khol’ campaign alive.

“They are afraid of what we are doing. They do not have any moral authority on this issue and therefore have resorted to violence,” said Mr Nirupam.

Mr Nirupam also questioned the behaviour of the policemen and their response. Meanwhile, the Sena claimed Mr Nirupam was over-hyping the entire issue.