Mumbai, March 18 (IANS) Tension returned to Navi Mumbai near here Saturday with mobs blockading police stations and highways, two days after street violence left one person dead and police firing claimed three more lives.

Although no new casualties were reported from the suburb - 26 km east of Mumbai - in Thane district, Navi Mumbai was simmering with public anger directed at the authorities for their inaction against police officials who ordered the firing.

Members of the Agri and Koli communities living at Ghansoli - seven kilometres from Navi Mumbai - had clashed with Mathadi (porters) workers from the nearby Simplex Colony when a minor altercation on Holi Wednesday escalated into a full-blown riot the next day.

Four people were reportedly killed Thursday - three of them in police firing - after clashes between the two groups.

Close to 400 people blockaded the Nerul Police station in Navi Mumbai Saturday demanding action against the police officials who gave the firing orders Thursday. The protestors were only baton-charged.

The Mumbai-Pune highway too was blocked by angry mobs, but they too were baton- charged and tear-gassed.

The fresh wave of aggression took place after reports that the police had assaulted a local leader who was allegedly forcing shops and other commercial establishments to down shutters at Nerul Friday evening.

Police, however, claimed the man hurt himself when he tried to jump out of his car to escape.

Shops, schools and commercial establishments stayed closed in Navi Mumbai Saturday. There was heavy police presence around Ghansoli village - where the violence began Wednesday night.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble said that several people were arrested for trying to block roads.

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service