Thane Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar shot dead; family alleges plot, blames ex-mayor and husband

Several startling details have emerged in the killing of Pradeep alias 'Bala' Purnekar, divisional chief of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), which has shaken Thane city. A gang of five entered his office in Manorama Nagar, where he was sitting, and fired 7 rounds at him. They then attacked him savagely with a koyta. The Purnekar family claims this was not a sudden attack but a conspiracy that had been in the making for several days.

According to Pradeep Purnekar's brother Jaynath Purnekar and son Ram Purnekar, the attackers had come to Manorama Nagar during Ganeshotsav and scouted the entire area closely. They came and sat in the area every day, waiting for the right moment.

At 9.32 pm on Tuesday, all the party workers of the area had gone out to collect Navratri contributions. The family says the attackers entered the office at exactly that time. Jaynath Purnekar said Pradeep Purnekar was alone in the office then. Seven bullets were fired at him from a pistol, of which 2 hit vital spots. After shooting him, the accused also attacked him with a koyta so that he would not survive.

Ram Purnekar told the media that a few days earlier a suspicious person had met a senior leader in the Neelkanth building. He said he had himself seen them standing together during the Ganpati immersion procession. He was startled on seeing them, and one man asked him, "Are you Pradeep Purnekar's son?"

Ram then immediately warned his father. Pradeep Purnekar told his son, "Do not step out of the house at all after 10 pm. The bullet meant for me could hit you too." The family says this makes it clear he had advance word of a deadly attack.

The Purnekar family has directly accused former mayor Meenakshi Shinde of the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and her husband Rajendra Shinde of being the main conspirators. Ram Purnekar claims that during the municipal election an audio clip of Meenakshi Shinde went viral in which she openly threatened, "After the election is over, I will finish Bala (Pradeep Purnekar)." Jaynath Purnekar alleges that secret meetings took place in the Neelkanth building between Rajendra Shinde and the gunmen. The family says the issue of cluster development in Manpada and Manorama Nagar and a fight for political dominance are behind the murder.

Police have for now detained 'Papya Shinde' as a suspect. The family is deeply suspicious of him. According to the family, Papya Shinde was an old friend of Pradeep Purnekar and had come to the office two days before the killing and sat for an hour to an hour and a half. The family claims he was present there during the shooting as well.

Ram Purnekar asked, "Papya was telling us that he held Papa after he was shot. But in the entire incident not a single blow landed on him, he did not even get a minor injury. How is this possible?" He also says that Papya came to the hospital and pretended to abuse the other suspects, even though police have detained him as a suspect.

Jaynath Purnekar said Pradeep Purnekar was running a tough campaign against the mafia selling drugs in the area. To wean young people off drugs, he often went out alone at night to act against them. For this reason he had received threatening phone calls several times. Jaynath had warned his brother, "These political rivals can do anything by using drug sellers, so do not go alone."

There was a strong reaction in Manorama Nagar and Manpada after the incident. On Wednesday all shops in Manorama Nagar and 3 schools remained fully shut. The Purnekar family has a large support base in the area. In the municipal election his wife and brother lost, but they still got good votes.

Disturbing CCTV footage has also emerged of Purnekar, covered in blood, being taken from the spot to hospital. His body is for now kept at J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem. The family has taken a firm stand that they will not perform the last rites until the main conspirators and all the killers are arrested immediately. The family has also demanded that the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister intervene and ensure strict justice. Police have sent out 9 special teams to trace the accused.