India, Sept. 18 -- The bust of late Meentai Thackeray, wife of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and mother of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, was found smeared with red paint on Wednesday morning, triggering tension and angry protests in and around the memorial site at Shivaji Park in Dadar.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders blamed the state government for failing to protect the statue, while Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray visited the site and appealed for peace. Leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena too condemned the act, saying Meenatai was like a mother to all Shiv Sena workers.

By evening, the alleged miscreant, Upendra Pavaskar, was nabbed by the Shivaji Park police base...