Patna, Nov 1 (IANS) In response to the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra, a senior woman government official from the state, with the surname Thackeray, was the target of an angry mob that surrounded her office and shouted slogans against her in Purnia district of Bihar. Ashwini Dattarey Thackeray, a Bihar cadre Indian Administrative Service (probationer) officer, was the target of ire of a mob of over 200 people. The mob, led by a local leader of the Lok Janashakti Party, surrounded Thackeray’s office in Purnia, about 350 km from here, and shouted slogans like, “Go back Maharashtrians” and “Officer go back, we do not need your services”.

Her security was tightened Saturday.

“She has been provided full security,” an official said, adding it was the first time that a government official from Maharashtra has been targeted since protests against the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) began last month in the state.

Her surname is the same as that of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who has invited flak for his parochial outbursts against migrants from north India working in Mumbai and other places in the state.

Thackeray, who is currently posted as Sub Divisional Officer (SDO), downplayed the incident, saying she does not know what actually happened as she was not in office at the time. “Anyway I am feeling safe here, there is no problem at all, no threat,” she said.

A mob also attacked a cinema hall in Purnia screening films of Marathi directors.

The MNS’ attacks on north Indians, especially from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra has triggered angry reactions in Bihar with youths burning trains coming from the western state and also attacking cinema halls screening Marathi films.