MUMBAI, June 5: Political activists in western India vandalized the home of a newspaper editor who criticised a costly government project to honour a much-loved warrior king. Seven activists were arrested, police said.

Kumar Ketkar and his family were at home when a mob representing a political group allied with the Maharasthra state government threw stones at windows, kicked in a door and threw paint at his home in the state capital Mumbai, said police officer Sanjay Pandit.

No family members were injured.

Ketkar is the editor of Loksatta newspaper. On Wednesday, Loksatta published an article by Ketkar that criticised a state government proposal to spend Rs1 billion ($25 million) on a monument to the Hindu warrior king Shivaji. He accused the government of using Shivaji’s name for political gain.

The proposed monument, featuring a statue of Shivaji astride a horse, was to be placed off the coast of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea and at 309 feet (94 meters) tall would rival the Statue of Liberty.

The mob that attacked Ketkar’s home are members of Shiv Sangram, a political group that is headed by a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party. The party is part of the state’s coalition government.

Seven workers of the Shiv Sangram group have been arrested for rioting, destruction of property and unlawful conduct, Pandit said.

Ketkar could not be reached for comment on Thursday, but the attack was condemned by India’s news media.

The Nationalist Congress Party on Thursday distanced itself from the attack and the Shiv Sangram group.

“Shiv Sangram is not at all related to our party. We condemn this attack on Mr. Ketkar. We believe in freedom of the press and we live in a democratic country,” said party spokesman Madan Basna.

He declined to comment on the fact that Shiv Sangram is headed by Vinayak Nete, a senior party leader.

Mumbai’s international airport and main railway station are also named after Shivaji, a 17th century local ruler revered by the people of Maharashtra and famed for his use of guerrilla tactics against India’s Mogul rulers.—AP