"Some people took U-turn from Mumbra": Eknath Shinde trains guns at Uddhav Thackeray amid Shakha demolition row

Nov 12, 2023

Kochi (Kerala) [India], November 12 : The death toll in the Kalamassery blast in Kerala's Kochi at a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses has reached five after a 45-year-old woman succumbed to her injuries on Saturday evening, officials said.
The deceased has been identified as Sally Pradeep. "She died yesterday around 10.30 pm," officials said.
According to officials, the daughter of the deceased, identified as Libna, had succumbed to her burn injuries earlier in the month. Her brother is said to be critical, as per officials.
Following the incident, the State Health Department had constituted a special Medical Board to monitor the health status of those injured in the blast, as per officials
Multiple explosions took place at a prayer meeting of Jehovah's Witnesses in the Kalamassery area of Kochi on October 29.
Dominic Martin, an accused in multiple blasts case was sent to Police custody for 10 days till November 15.
The Kerala Police had said that the blast was caused by a remote-controlled Improvised Explosive Device (IED).
Police said that Martin has been charged under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and Explosive Substances Act.
According to the police, the accused also has the bills for the items purchased for the IED blast. Wherever Dominic purchased the goods, he made videos in those places.
According to Martin, Jehovah's Witnesses and its ideology were 'dangerous' for the nation and had to be put to end in the state.
Kochi Police had arrested Martin after the blasts based on a self-made confession video posted on Facebook claiming responsibility for the blasts at the Zamra International Convention Centre in Kalamassery where over 2,000 followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian sect, had gathered for a prayer meeting earlier in the month.
Following the incidents, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a 20-member probe team to investigate the matter.
Thane (Maharashtra) [India], November 12 : High drama enfolded in Thane's Mumbra when both, the factions of the Shiv Sena came face to face.
Former CM, Uddhav Thackeray was heading towards the demolished Shakha of Shiv Sena in Mumbra when was stopped by the Shinde faction workers on Saturday.
Workers of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde faction showed black flags to Uddhav Thackeray & top leaders of Sena (UBT) who went to Mumbra in Thane to visit the razed shakha. As the situation became tense, Uddhav Thackeray returned back with the party workers.
A short while later, while addressing a function on his home turf Thane, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde targeted his former boss who had to return from Mumbra.
"Some people came to Mumbra today...but they had to take a U-turn return..." , Shinde said while addressing a gathering in Thane.
Earlier, fresh tensions simmered between the Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Sena after the Shinde faction allegedly bulldozed a 25-year-old Shakha of the UBT Sena in Mumbra.
This move was strongly opposed by Uddhav Thackeray as he led his group towards Mumbra to make a statement of intent.
"Those who are high on power bulldozed the Shakha. I have come here to show you the bulldozer. Our posters were torn. We will tear your arrogance into pieces in the polls," Uddhav said while addressing the party workers in Mumbra" Uddhav said as he addressed party cadre.
Since the split of the Shiv Sena and the merger of Shinde faction with BJP, there has been a continuous war of words between the two parties.
"Our land (Sakha) has been encroached upon. We have all the documents. The Shakha will assemble every day," the former CM said.
Cautioning the administration and the police, Uddhav Thackeray said, "You are not slaves of the thieves. You have protected the thieves, but the thieves have disturbed the honeycomb. Now the honeybees will sting you."
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also criticized the Police for not taking any action over the demolition of Shiv sena shakha by Shinde faction.
"...The way in which the bulldozer was run over in Mumbra, will we keep watching? When the bulldozer was being run over our Shakha, were the police sleeping? ... When Uddhav Thackeray announced that he would go there, the police became active and said they would stop him...We are also Shiv Sena. We have the DNA of Bala Saheb Thackeray; we are not bogus... ." Raut said addressing a Press Conference.
This confrontation is the latest in the fight for supremacy between the two factions of the Sena. With the Municipal elections, the Lok Sabha Elections and next years state elections scheduled the fight is expected to get more intense.