Click to play videoMumbai: Broken glass litters the Mumbai University Campus, after MNS activists went on rampage over a perceived injustice to the Marathi language.
The MNS is hit by the University's decision to make Marathi an elective subject in its Social Sciences course. Activists hurled cola bottles at the building and vandalised the registrar's office
"We have arrested them under a non bailable offence," says DCP, Vishwas Nagre-Patil.
Institutions of art and education have become soft targets for the politics of vandalism and the punishment in most cases is a mere token arrest.
And in many cases, the culprits manage to get bail within hours like Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut did after being arrested for vandalising the Intercontinental hotel.
Political vandalism has only risen in Maharashtra in the past few months. MNS activists vandalised railway recruitment examination centres in October 2008. On 21st January 2009, the Shiv Sena vandalised Intercontinental hotel over sacking of some employees
On 22nd January, Narayan Rane supporters vandalised the Marathi daily Navakal's office over an offensive editorial and MNS activists attacked a Bhojpuri cinema hall in Nashik on Republic day.
However, ordinary Mumbaikars have voiced their dissent over such hooliganism.
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