The local civic body on Tuesday used bulldozers to raze “illegal” structures and encroachments in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb which witnessed clashes between two communities two days ago.
The Mira Bhaindar Municipal Corporation’s action came a day after Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of strict action against the rioters.
A huge contingent of police personnel, including a Rapid Action Force (RAF) team, was deployed in the area to avoid any untoward incident.
Police said 15 “illegal” structures in the area are being razed.
Members of two communities clashed and pelted stones at each other during a rally organised in Naya Nagar on the eve of the consecration of Lord Ram's idol in the Ayodhya temple.
"Anyone trying to disrupt law and order" in the state would be punished severely,” Fadnavis said in a post on X.
"Police have been instructed to take strict action against the accused. In this case, 13 accused have been detained so far and the process of identifying the other accused is underway by checking the CCTV footage. Anyone trying to disrupt law and order in Maharashtra will not be tolerated," he said.
An official at the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police said the stone pelting was reported from Naya Nagar police station limits, where the group clash took place during a rally comprising cars and other vehicles and taken out on the eve of the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
Using bulldozers to demolish “illegal” structures was initiated by the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. Since then, several BJP-ruled states have followed this move against the accused in various cases even as the legality of such actions are being questioned by many.
