Thane: Slain Sena (UBT) leader's son detained outside Eknath Shinde's bungalow over no arrests

Twenty-six days after the killing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradip alias Balu Purnekar in Thane, the main accused have still not been arrested. His son, Ram Purnekar, is angry over this. He had warned of a protest outside the Thane residence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Wagle Estate police detained him before the protest could begin, causing a stir.

Ram Purnekar has two main demands. The first is the immediate arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband Rajendra Shinde. The second is that the fifth helmet-wearing accused seen in CCTV footage be put behind bars.

At a press conference on Monday, October 26, Ram Purnekar had given the administration a 24-hour warning. After the deadline ended, he set out on Tuesday, as announced, with supporters towards Eknath Shinde's Shubhdeep bungalow. Recognising the gravity of the situation, police had deployed strict intelligence cover and heavy security outside the bungalow. They stopped him as soon as he reached the protest site.

Ram Purnekar broke down in tears and wept inconsolably. Expressing anger at the police, he said, "What kind of police administration is this, which cannot give us justice? The government does not listen to us, and we are not getting justice from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde either!" Wagle Estate police detained him immediately so that no law-and-order problem would arise.

Pradip Purnekar was brutally murdered on September 29 in the Manpada area of Thane. The killing was carried out after a conspiracy had been hatched. He had recently undergone a medical surgery. That day, his workers had gone out to collect Navratri festival donations, and Purnekar was alone in the office.

It was then that gunmen wearing helmets and with their faces covered suddenly entered the office. The attackers fired seven bullets at him from close range. Not stopping at that, they also struck him with a sharp weapon and fled. Purnekar was rushed to hospital but died during treatment.

The Purnekar family has made some serious allegations in the case. They allege that former mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband Rajendra Shinde were directly involved. A helmeted suspect was clearly visible in the CCTV footage from the time of the murder. The family also says that even after 26 days, police have not been able to catch the main conspirator or the fifth accused.

The Purnekar family has also alleged that the police are working under pressure from those in power and are shielding the main accused. That, they say, is why they had decided to protest at the Deputy Chief Minister's doorstep.