Mumbai:
The Mumbai Police is gearing up for what they call a challenge after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) call for a
raasta-roko agitation against toll collection across the state on Wednesday. Since last month, Maharashtra has witnessed violence that has been perpetrated mostly by the MNS against the issue of toll collection.
Hemant Nagrale, Acting Mumbai Police Commissioner held a series of meetings with top police officials to chalk out a plan to tackle the agitation and ensure that normal life in the city is not disrupted. "We are prepared to handle any situation with firm hands and actions will be taken against the anti-social elements if they indulge in any kind of vandalism," Mr Nagrale said.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray has warned that all toll plazas would remain shut tomorrow. He is expected to protest at the Vashi Toll Plaza in Navi Mumbai. "All the highways in Maharashtra where toll is collected will be shut from 09:00am. This is final," he said.
The police has issued notices to MNS workers and Mr Thackeray under section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Given the MNS's violent past, 50 MNS workers have been taken into preventive custody. Security will be beefed up at major crossings and toll plazas will see maximum deployment of security forces. Leaves of policemen have also been cancelled.
The major routes that are likely to face trouble due to the MNS agitation are the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, The Eastern Express Highway and The Western Express Highway, The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, National Highway 4 which connects Mumbai to cities like Thane, Pune, Satara and Kolhapur, The Mumbai-Nashik Expressway, Thane-Ghodbunder Road and Thane-Bhiwandi Road.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has invited the MNS Chief for a meeting on the issue. But he made it clear that there would no meeting with any conditions. Mr Thackeray had suggested that cameras be allowed into the meeting so that there is no suspicion of any understanding with the government. "I have appealed to him not to protest on this. The rest is up to him. He should not do anything that will trouble citizens. We are considering toll policy for the state," said Mr Chavan.
However, in election season, the MNS will try and milk the issue for political advantage in its own style of violence and intimidation. The sufferers will be the common man and students whose exams begin on Wednesday.