Nasik, Feb 12: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists indulged in acts of violence in Nasik today, few hours after the party had announced that their chief, Raj Thackeray, would not seek anticipatory bail ahead of his impending arrest.

MNS workers destroyed shops owned by North Indians in Nasik. Police detained at least 26 MNS workers.

Earlier, a party spokesman said Thackeray had decided not to seek anticipatory bail.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police have beefed up security at Thackeray’s residence after a case was registered against him for disturbing harmony in the city.

"The cases have been registered on the basis of certain evidence and arrest is mandatory," the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), K L Prasad, said.

Mumbai Police had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against Thackeray on Monday at the Vikroli Police Station. Raj was booked under the non-bailable Section
153A, B and Section 117 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for inciting violence in the city.

Mumbai was rocked by sporadic incidents of violence on February 3 after Raj Thackeray had called for a Maharashtra for Maharashtrians.

The MNS has been targeting north Indian migrants living in the metropolis and objected to celebrations like Chhat Puja and Uttar Pradesh Diwas in Maharashtra.

He had also criticised film star Amitabh Bachchan for being regionalist. West Bengal's Communists were also described as non-liberal and unsecular.

English and Hindi language journalists were also criticised at a press conference on Saturday. (ANI)