Thane, Oct 14 (PTI) A heated altercation unfolded between Marathi and non-Marathi-speaking groups over putting up stalls for selling items during the ongoing festive season in Dombivli town of Thane district on Tuesday, civic officials said.

In a shocking turn of events, one of the non-Marathi vendors allegedly poured kerosene on herself in a bid to self-immolate, but timely intervention by bystanders and officials prevented a tragedy, they said.

The dispute, which unfolded on Gupte Road, led to a brief stand-off and required the intervention of both civic officials and local leaders to restore calm.

According to the officials, a group of Marathi-speaking women had secured official permission from the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to set up stalls for the festive season.

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