Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar shot dead outside office in Thane
Shiv Sena (UBT) local leader Pradeep Purnekar, also known as 'Bala', was shot dead outside his office in Thane's Manpada area on Tuesday night; police say the motive is unknown and all angles are under investigation.
A Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) local leader was shot dead outside his office in Thane on Tuesday night, sparking tension in the area and a major police hunt.
Pradeep Purnekar, also known as ‘Bala’ and identified by party colleagues as the Shiv Sena (UBT) vibhag pramukh or division head in Thane, was attacked at around 9 pm in the Manpada–Manorama Nagar area on Ghodbunder Road, within the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi police station, NDTV Profit reported.
According to police, Purnekar was first assaulted and then shot twice by two unidentified attackers, who fled the scene. He was rushed to Infinity Hospital near R Mall on Ghodbunder Road, where he died during treatment despite emergency intervention.
Investigators are examining CCTV footage from around his office, nearby roads and possible escape routes, and have set up checkpoints — nakabandi — at major exits from Thane to intercept the suspects. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure, and senior party leaders have demanded immediate arrests, Mid-day reported.
The motive remains unknown. Police are examining all possible angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity, but none has been established. NDTV Profit also noted Purnekar’s reported civic activism, including opposition to alleged unauthorised constructions in the area, but said police have not linked any of it to the killing.
The Kapurbawdi police are continuing the investigation, and further details on the attackers are awaited.
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