A police official said several opposition party activists were taken into custody as a precautionary measure to avoid violence on Monday. Though he refused to say how many arrests were made, other police sources put the number of those detained in Mumbai so far at about 200, but added it might go up to 1,000 or more. Fearing arrests, several leaders and activists of Sena, MNS and BJP have gone into hiding.
State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sudhir Mungattiwar, leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Eknath Khadse, and leader of opposition in the Legislative Council Pandurang Phundkar will lead protest rallies in Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad respectively.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said after a meeting late on Friday that the Maharashtra government may petition court on Monday after consulting legal experts against the opposition shutdown. The government, he said, was ready to tackle any law and order problem.
Chavan warned that stern action would be taken against those involved in violence during the strike.
Those involved in destroying public property would be made to compensate for the damages.
Railways have been asked to beef up security at all the stations, the chief minister said.
Chavan said it was wrong on the part of the opposition to call the strike. This, he said, was illegal and against the constitution.
Though it is not yet clear if the authorities would order closure of schools on Monday, a government official said government employees had been told to attend their duties and assured of transport facilities.
