Police lathicharged and lobbed two tear gas shells to disperse clashing Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers in Central Mumbai on Tuesday.

The clashes occurred in the vicinity of Sena Bhavan in Dadar on Tuesday evening over putting up of posters and banners outside a college by the student wings of both parties, police sources said.

A policeman as well as several party workers from both sides were injured in stone pelting, police sources said.

Shops and all commercial establishments were closed down in Dadar after the clashes escalated and traffic was being diverted in the area, they said.

"We don't know how the whole thing started. But it was the MNS who started the stone pelting from the terrace of a residential building.

Then they locked the door so that Sainiks could not enter the premises. This is sheer cowardice," executive editor of Sena mouthpiece "Saamna", Sanjay Raut told PTI.

He alleged that the police played spectator to the stone pelting, adding, "If anybody tries to attack Sainiks and the police refuse to do anything, we will defend ourselves. Shiv Sainiks from all over Mumbai are coming to Dadar."