Slain Sena (UBT) leader's son detained in Thane while heading to Shinde's residence

Ram Purnekar, son of the murdered Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar, was detained by police in Thane on Tuesday. He was trying to take a march towards the Thane residence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Ram Purnekar was heading to Shinde's bungalow to hold a peaceful protest. Police stopped him in the Wagle Estate area and detained him.

Visuals of the detention show Ram with tears in his eyes, pleading with police officers. "Sir, my father is gone," he said. Police then took him to Naupada police station.

His detention triggered a protest outside Naupada police station, and local leaders of opposition parties reached the spot. Hundreds of local residents and Ram's associates took to the streets. They staged a rasta roko, blocking the road outside the police station, and demanded Ram's release.

Ram has demanded the arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband in connection with the killing of his father on September 29.

After Ram was detained, leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT), the MNS, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Congress came to the police station. They demonstrated and shouted slogans there. Alleging an "increase" in crime in Thane city, they demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde. MNS leader Avinash Jadhav alleged that the administration was shielding influential people.

Meanwhile, former mayor Meenakshi Shinde appeared for questioning at the office of the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC). "I am fully cooperating with the police," she told reporters.

Pradeep Purnekar was the Manpada ward or division chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT). On September 29, unidentified assailants attacked and killed him in his office. Police have since arrested five suspects.

On Tuesday in Thane, then, police detained Ram Purnekar on one side, while on the other former mayor Meenakshi Shinde appeared before the Anti-Extortion Cell for questioning. Five suspects have been arrested in the killing of Pradeep Purnekar, while Ram has demanded the arrest of the former mayor and her husband.