"The Home Ministry is providing central forces to the state government as requested by it. Rapid Action Force (RAF) units are already positioned in Mumbai," a senior MHA official said.

He said the Centre was in ‘close and continuous touch’ with the state government.

The Home Ministry has advised Maharashtra to make all necessary arrangements to ensure that peace was maintained all over the state and activities of mischief-mongers were effectively checked, he added.

Violence spread to Nashik where MNS activists attacked fruit vendors hailing from North India on Tuesday. Reports said that Pune, Aurangabad, Nanded, Latur and Amravati too witnessed some trouble.