NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Bombay shudders as Thackeray is arrested

As news of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's arrest spread, stray reports of violence, shops downing their shutters etc, have started tricking in from across Bombay.

"Where is the panic? There is no panic in the city," said Sameer Bhujbal ,son of Maharashtra Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal.

The railway lines, backbone of Bombay's transport system, is functioning normally, and on time. Rakesh Maria , Commissioner of Railway Police, told rediff.com, "Our bandobast is pucca, there are no reports of untoward incidents from anywhere. The railways will remain peaceful. People should not worry."

Despite such talk, in Andheri, Malad and Kandivili, in north Bombay, shops quickly downed their shutters soon as they heard of the arrest. Even BEST buses are reported to have pulled off the roads in many places. Dadar, Mahim and other areas in central Bombay, considered Shiv Sena strongholds, started shutting down, as locals feared violence.

Many schools and colleges across the city are also learnt to have shut down for the day as a precautionary measure.

The city's telephone line was on the blink, probably caused by line congestion. Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd authorities, naturally could not be contacted over the telephone.

Thackeray himself has expressed himself against any violence in the wake of his arrest. However, his party unit in neighbouring Thane district has already expressed its inability to prevent any such outbreak, although, mercifully, it has remained peaceful so far.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report