India, July 8 -- Tensions flared in Mira-Bhayandar on Tuesday after police denied permission for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) planned protest march over alleged injustices faced by Marathi-speaking citizens. Authorities imposed Section 144 across the region and detained several MNS leaders, including district chief Avinash Jadhav, in a preemptive overnight crackdown.

The march, scheduled to start at 10:00 am from Balaji Hotel, was to protest against what the MNS described as systematic discrimination against locals. However, late Monday night, police raided homes of several party workers, placing some under house arrest and detaining others to prevent the gathering.

Despite the police action, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande remai...