Shiv Sena (UBT) office-bearer Pradeep Purnekar shot dead in Thane

A shooting in Thane on Tuesday night has caused alarm in the city's political and social circles. Unidentified assailants opened fire on Pradeep Purnekar, an office-bearer of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction. Critically injured, Purnekar died during treatment at a hospital.

The incident took place at around 9 pm in the Manoramanagar-Ganeshnagar area, under Kapurbawdi police station limits. The unidentified assailants fired two rounds at Purnekar and fled the spot immediately. According to some eyewitnesses, the attackers had their faces covered.

Purnekar, critically wounded in the firing, was rushed to Infinity Hospital near R Mall. Doctors there tried their best to save him, but he died during treatment because of the serious injuries. Police have officially confirmed his death.

Kapurbawdi police and senior police officers reached the spot soon after receiving news of the incident. Heavy police deployment has been put in place in the area to prevent a breakdown of law and order. A forensic team also reached the spot and has begun collecting key evidence.

To identify the attackers and establish the route by which they fled, police are closely going through CCTV footage from the area. Eyewitnesses are being questioned, and strict checkpoints have been set up on the main roads of Thane to catch the accused.

Purnekar was working actively in Thane as a divisional chief (vibhag pramukh) of the Shiv Sena (UBT). News of his killing spread quickly and caused great alarm in political and social circles.

The actual motive for the killing is not yet clear. Police are investigating the case from every angle, including a possible political dispute and personal enmity. The questions of who the attackers were, how many there were and who hatched the conspiracy will be answered only after the police investigation. Further investigation is continuing rapidly.