In a shocking incident that has triggered intense political tension, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep (Bala) Purnekar was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Thane late Tuesday night. The targeted attack took place in the Manorama Nagar area under the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi Police Station.
According to preliminary reports, the assailants ambushed Purnekar and fired two rounds at him at point-blank range before fleeing the scene. Purnekar sustained critical gunshot wounds and was rushed by local residents to the nearby Infinity Hospital near R Mall. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Purnekar was a prominent local figure, serving as the division head (Vibhag Pramukh) for the party across the Manorama Nagar, Manpada, and Azad Nagar areas. He was known to be a close associate of former Member of Parliament Rajan Vichare. His family is deeply rooted in Thane's political landscape; his wife, Vijeta Purnekar, and his brother, former municipal corporator Jaynath Purnekar, both contested the recent Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) elections as official Shiv Sena (UBT) candidates from Ward 3.
Following the shooting, widespread tension erupted across the locality, prompting a heavy deployment of police personnel to maintain law and order. The Kapurbawdi police are currently registering a case, examining CCTV footage from the area, and launching a massive investigation to identify the shooters and determine the motive behind the murder. Further details are awaited.
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