Justifying Wednesday night's attack by Shiv Sena workers on the office of Zee TV, the popular channel, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray on Thursday congratulated them for 'remaining vigilant'.

In a front-page article in Saamna, the Sena mouthpiece, Thackeray said the outburst was in response to the 'obnoxious' skit presented on the Shiv Sena by Zee Marathi, ridiculing Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and his cousin Raj.

The skit titled 'Kaka mala vachva', (Uncle, protect me) was staged during the awards function hosted by the channel at Bandra-Kurla complex recently.

• Bal Thackeray on the Sena crisis

'A thousand thanks to you...keep the flame alive...we need to protect Mumbai from such (distasteful) people', Thackeray said congratulating the Sena workers.

The satirical piece was reportedly a comment on the power tussle within the Thackeray family, which utlimately resulted in the exit of Vidyarthi Sena leader and Sena chief's nephew, Raj from the party some time ago.

Sena workers, allegedly led by Sena's student wing, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena leader, Abhijit Panase, had attacked Zee office Wednesday night, ransacking and damaging its office and the OB van stationed outside.

Meanwhile, Mumbai police have detained four persons in connection with the attack, although no formal arrest has been made so far.

"We will book Abhijit Panase since the Sena mouthpiece has named him as the one who had led the attack," a senior Mumbai police official said.

Also read:
'Those who left Sena should return'

Photo: Arun Patil