Maharashtra: Aurangabad MNS asks people to give info on infiltrators

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has opened a counter in Aurangab in Maharashtra for people to give information about 'infiltrators' and those whose tip-offs prove correct would be given a reward of Rs 5,000, a functionary of Raj Thackeray-led party said on Friday.

MNS has started one counter in Akashwani area, manned by party workers, and five more are in pipeline, MNS Aurangab unit president Sumit Khambekar said.

"People can give information on infiltrators staying here and we will forward it to police. If police verification finds information to be correct, we will give person who gave us tip-off a reward of Rs 5,000," said Khambekar.

When contacted, Aurangab police commissioner Chiranjeev Pras refused to comment saying news (of MNS setting up 'infiltrator information' counter) was being verified. MNS' move comes after Thackeray, in a rally in Mumbai on February 9, signalled a turn towards hardline Hindutva by claiming his party would work towards evicting illegal Pakistani and Bangleshi migrants staying in Maharashtra.

In his speech, Thackeray appealed to Central government to give a "free hand to police for 48 hours to evict infiltrators from Mumbai, as it is useless to ask state government".

" issue of infiltrators is as important as that of drinking water, education and health. Pakistani and Bangleshi infiltrators should be thrown out of country, and re shouldn't be any compromise on issue," he h told garing.