A mob, protesting against a book on Chhatrapati Shivaji by a foreign author, on Monday stormed the Bhandarkar Research Institute in Pune and damaged several rare books, manuscripts and furniture.

Over 70 persons have been rounded up in this connection, police said.

The mob was protesting against alleged disparaging remarks against the Maratha warrior made in the book.

Security has been stepped up in the area, police said.

Local historians from Pune had helped the author with research material for the book.