A Navratri event organised by Achole Mitra Mandal in Nalasopara East, Mumbai, turned violent on Sunday night when two groups clashed, reportedly throwing stones and striking each other with sticks and bamboo rods. About 10 people were injured, and the incident left the area tense.
The trouble began while the mandal’s celebrations were in progress, when a two-wheeler rider got into an argument with a tempo driver over a narrow stretch of road. Mandal members allegedly beat the rider and chased him away. He reportedly came back with a group of supporters, who are said to have attacked the mandal members with stones, sticks and bamboo rods.
The injured were taken to Tulinj Hospital, which is run by the Vasai Virar Municipal Corporation. Tulinj police registered a case against the attackers late on Sunday night.
Conflicting accounts
Vishal Singh, a mandal member who was hurt, alleged that the rider, named as Krishna, returned with 10 to 15 people armed with sticks and bamboo rods. According to Singh, they hurled stones and even damaged the mandal’s idol.
An injured woman claimed that 50 to 60 people showed up and assaulted her as she stood nearby.
Shiv Yadav, who described himself as a friend of Krishna, gave a different version. He alleged that the mandal had left too little room on the road for people to pass. He said Krishna’s argument with the tempo driver was over the cramped road, and that after mandal members assaulted him, he and others went to confront them.
