Three persons were killed and over 170 arrested in neighbouring Thane after violence erupted there following the arrest of MNS leader Raj Thackeray, police said.
Three deaths were reported in the Pisoli village area in Kalyan last night following a clash between two groups, Thane Police Commissioner Anil Dhere told PTI.
"We have made 179 arrests in the Thane commissionerate area since last night in connection with violence," Dhere said.
The three dead have been identified as Omprakash Dubey, Mayur Dubey and Gurunath Bhoir, the brother of a local MNS leader.
Asked if the clash between the two groups took place in the wake of MNS activists targeting north Indian community members living there, the Commissioner said the matter was being investigated.
"We are still investigating whether the clash between the two groups was a result of a clash between MNS activists and north Indians or due to past enmity," Dhere said.
The town, with a population of about 5,000 persons, has witnessed high security since the incident but curfew has not been imposed, he said.
The town has witnessed clashes between groups of resident members of the north Indian community and MNS activists in the past.
Violence erupted in Kalyan and surrounding areas last night after arrested MNS leader Raj Thackeray was taken to the Manpada police station in Dombivali in connection with the assault on candidates who appeared for railway recruitment exams on October 19.
