12 December,2012 07:24 AM IST | | Sujit Mahamulkar
The BMC's plan of removing the makeshift memorial of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was washed out on Monday night when Sena supporters reached the Worli office and vandalised their office and eight trucks. According to sources, the mob was tipped-off by a BMC worker.
Smashed: A group of 15-20 Sena supporters vandalised nine trucks at the BMC office at Worli when they were tipped-off that the authorities would remove the makeshift samadhi of Bal Thackeray from Shivaji Park. Pic/Bipin Kokate
Around 9.30 pm on Monday, trucks and dumpers from the Worli garage and the G-south ward office (Elphinstone Road) were on their way to Shivaji Park to dismantle the memorial. However, their plans were foiled when a group of 15-20 Sainiks reached the BMC premises and went berserk breaking furniture inside the office and vandalising the trucks, as reported in MID Day yesterdy.
Following the incident, the BMC registered an FIR at the Worli police station against unknown persons. "We registered a case after the incident at Worli police station. No employee was injured but nine of our vehicles have been damaged," said SG Chitale, chief engineer of the solid waste management department. When asked how many vehicles were deployed for the removal, he refused to comment.
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When MiD DAY approached Mayor Sunil Prabhu to confirm if the BMC was to remove the structure from Shivaji Park, he said he was unaware of such a plan. "There was no such plan to remove the structure." Besides, he stayed mum on the fact that he had still not replied to the notice sent to him by the municipal commissioner to vacate the grounds.
Meanwhile, the number of Sena supporters increased at Shivaji Park. Almost 2,500 to 3,000 people including former MP Mohan Rawale, former mayor Shraddha Jadhav, vibhag pramukh Ajay Chaudhary, former MLA Sada Sarvankar, corporator Kishori Pednekar and Ramakant Rahate had converged at the grounds to thwart any attempt to demolish the structure. "Now we will be even more vigilant and protect our leader," said a Sena leader who was present at Shivaji Park.u00a0
