Mumbai:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has ordered the Mumbai Crime Branch to investigate last evening's violence near Azad Maidan in which two people were killed. Another 50 were injured after a protest over ethnic clashes in Assam turned violent.
20 people have been detained for the violence. Investigators are trying to ascertain what got the crowd agitated and also how the two protesters were killed.
Security in the city has been increased and there's heavy police deployment around Azad Maidan. The situation is calm today.
Yesterday, protesters began gathering at Azad Maidan around noon. By 2 pm, over 5000 of them were there. But after a few hours of peaceful protest, things got out of hand. Around 3.30 pm, a section of them torched some vehicles. The police then had to fire in the air to disperse the crowds.
The State Reserve Police and riot control police were also pressed into action and the situation was brought under control within 30 minutes.
The Chief Minister condemned the attack and visited the injured in hospital last night. "Mumbai Crime Branch will investigate the matter and probe the reasons for the violence. They have already begun their work," he said.
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also condemned the attack and warned of strong action against rumour mongers. He appealed to people to maintain peace.