MUMBAI: Tension prevailed in Mumbai’s Mazgaon area for over four hours on Sunday night after a clash broke out between two groups during the arrival procession of Ganesh idol, with festival organisers alleging that eggs were hurled at the procession from a nearby building.Police reached the spot and intervened to bring the situation under control. Around 10,000-15,000 people had gathered on the streets before police dispersed the crowd.The situation was brought under control by Monday morning, with police personnel deployed in the area and outside the Ganesh pandal as a precautionary measure.Akhil Public Festival Committee president Hitesh Jadhav alleged that an egg was thrown at the procession from a nearby building after the arrival of Lord Ganpati had taken place.“The incident that took place here today is condemnable. The arrival of Lord Ganpati had already happened, and someone from nearby buildings threw ‘Baida’ (egg in Marathi),” Jadhav told news agency ANI.Jadhav said the incident escalated tension in the area and urged police to take action against those responsible within 24 hours.“We have requested that the police take action within the next 24 hours,” he said.He also said Maharashtra cultural affairs minister Ashish Shelar had extended support to the organisers and assured them that action would be taken.“Ashish Shelar has helped us a lot. We have been assured that complete action will be taken on this within 24 hours,” Jadhav said.Vivek Rane, deputy secretary of Mazgaon Cha Maurya Ganpati Mandal, alleged that eggs were thrown at the procession from a building located around 30-40 metres from the pandal.“While we were organising the Ganpati Aagaman procession, there is a building just 30 to 40 metres away from the pandal. Some anti-social elements from a nearby building opposite the pandal started throwing eggs at the procession. This incident is objectionable. We are demanding strong action against those responsible,” Rane said.Police remained deployed in Mazgaon after the incident to prevent any further escalation and maintain law and order.(With agency inputs)
