MUMBAI: Morphed pictures of legendary Maratha warrior-king Chhatrapati Shivaji and late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on social networking site Facebook led to a riot-like situation in Pune and surrounding districts on late Saturday and early Sunday.
The police have blocked the controversial Facebook page and filed an FIR against unidentified people for spreading hatred. The situation was brought under control by Sunday evening.
Shiv Sena workers damaged at least 26 buses and blocked roads in Pune, Baramati, Nashik and Kolhapur, protesting against the derogatory images.
“We have registered a case in this regard with Kothrud Police Station under the IT Act. Those who had ‘liked’ the image will also be booked,” said Chandrashekhar Daithankar, Additional Commissioner of Police in Pune.
The Nashik Police had deployed Riot Control Force after angry mobs pelted stones at five buses in Yeola. A bandh was observed in Pune, Satara and Kolhapur on Sunday.
Union Rural Development Minister Gopinath Munde talked to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded quick action against the culprits.
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered here against an unidentified person for posting controversial pictures containing alleged derogatory references to warrior king Shivaji and late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on social networking site Facebook, police said.