Cops deployed after clashes in Parel
Two incidents -a biker allegedly striking women pedestrians in Parel and another getting into a tiff with a policeman near the Bharatmata junction -late on Sunday night triggered violence in Lalbaug, Parel and Kalachowkie areas.
Squads from the local police, State Reserve Police, Quick Response Team and Riot Control Police were deployed in the areas after locals and motorcyclists riding in groups clashed, though officials refused to comment on the nature of the clashes, saying they were still assessing the situation.
Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria and other senior officers rushed to the spot and by 11, the situation was brought under control, officials said.However, shops and other establishments in Parel, Lower Parel, Worli, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Elphinstone Road were ordered to down shutters.
Trouble began at about 10 pm after a speeding biker hit some women pedestrians in Parel. Angry locals then picked up bamboo sticks from a nearby construction site and started attacking other motorcyclists from his group. They also hurled stones at passing vehicles.
In the meantime, another biker allegedly misbehaved with a police constable who stopped him for riding three-up, escalating the situation.
“I was passing through Lalbaug when I saw a crowd hitting some bikers with bamboo sticks and damaging their vehicles. The bikers, who appeared to be in their twenties, later ran away,“ a witness said. Officers from the Bhoiwada, Kalachowkie and other nearby police stations rushed to the spots to defuse the situation.
Squads from the local police, State Reserve Police, Quick Response Team and Riot Control Police were deployed in the areas after locals and motorcyclists riding in groups clashed, though officials refused to comment on the nature of the clashes, saying they were still assessing the situation.
Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria and other senior officers rushed to the spot and by 11, the situation was brought under control, officials said.However, shops and other establishments in Parel, Lower Parel, Worli, Dadar, Prabhadevi and Elphinstone Road were ordered to down shutters.
City BJP chief Ashish Shelar tweeted that he had visited the spot and appealed for calm.
Trouble began at about 10 pm after a speeding biker hit some women pedestrians in Parel. Angry locals then picked up bamboo sticks from a nearby construction site and started attacking other motorcyclists from his group. They also hurled stones at passing vehicles.
In the meantime, another biker allegedly misbehaved with a police constable who stopped him for riding three-up, escalating the situation.
“I was passing through Lalbaug when I saw a crowd hitting some bikers with bamboo sticks and damaging their vehicles. The bikers, who appeared to be in their twenties, later ran away,“ a witness said. Officers from the Bhoiwada, Kalachowkie and other nearby police stations rushed to the spots to defuse the situation.
