THANE: Violence broke out during a general body meeting of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation in Maharashtra’s Thane district after BJP corporators allegedly assaulted citizens and journalists, prompting protests and the registration of FIRs, officials said on Saturday.Bhayander police registered two first information reports (FIRs) on Friday, one of which names 17 BJP corporators, after videos showing corporators allegedly throwing footwear at reporters and damaging a journalist’s mobile phone surfaced on social media.According to eyewitnesses, the incident began after mayor Dimpal Mehta directed security personnel to take action against people using mobile phones in the spectator gallery during the meeting.A group of ruling party corporators then entered the gallery, allegedly manhandled visitors and attacked journalists recording the commotion, eyewitnesses said.Following the incident, journalists staged a sit-in protest outside the municipal hall, demanding criminal action against the corporators involved. Opposition parties, including the Congress, Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), condemned the incident.No arrests have been made so far, and the investigation is underway, an official said.(With Agency Inputs)
