Bal Thackeray dead: Shiv Sena, Mumbai Police appeal for peace, shops down shutters

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena urged people to maintain peace and stay calm after the death of party chief Bal Thackeray, who breathed his last at 3.30 pm on Saturday. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said that Thackeray's body would be kept for 'darshan' at Shivaji Park ground in central Mumbai on Sunday. He also asked party workers to not gather at Matoshree - Bal Thackeray's residence in Mumbai.

Shops in several areas shut down as the news of Thackeray's death spread. People were stranded in several areas as many taxis and auto rickshaws also went off road.

Mumbai police said that over 20,000 police personnel had been deployed across the Maharashtra capital to avoid any law-and-order problem. Maharashtra has been put on high alert for the next 24 hours.

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  A young Bal Thackeray engrossed in his work.

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  Thackeray's cartoons were full of wit and satire.

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  A powerful orator himself, he admired Hitler's public speaking abilities.

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  He founded the Shiv Sena in 1966.

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  His political philosophy was largely shaped by his father Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, a leading figure in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.

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  Bal Thackeray was a controversial figure; he even voiced support for LTTE guerrillas in Sri Lanka.

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  He turned Shiv Sena into a potent political force in Maharashtra.

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  His charismatic personality captured the attention of a substantial section of Maharashtrians in and around Mumbai.

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  He received a major jolt in 2006 when his nephew and one of his party's pillars, Raj, decided to part ways and float his own Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.

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  After the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, he strongly spoke against even playing cricket with Pakistan and objected to Pakistani players being included in IPL teams.

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  Over the last two years, his age was taking its toll on the Sena supremo.

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  His supporters loved him, many hated his ideas but no one can deny that he single-handedly turned the Sena into one of India's most powerful and feared regional forces.

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Over 20,000 police personnel had been deployed across the Maharashtra capital to avoid any law-and-order problem.

Sanjay Raut added that the party workers would be able to pay last respects to the Shiv Sena supremo from 7.00 am on Sunday at Shivaji Park. "People should maintain peace and should not lose calm. We should carry on the thoughts of Shiv Sena chief," Raut said.

Shivaji Park was the place where the very first rally of Shiv Sena was held, and where Thackeray held his annual Dussehra rallies year after year. This year, however, he had not been able to attend the event because of ill-health.

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