Shiv Sena-UBT leader Pradeep Purnekar shot, stabbed to death in Maharashtra
Killing sparks protests and political outrage over state’s law-and-order situation
Mumbai: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot and stabbed to death by armed assailants in Thane city of the Indian state of Maharashtra, sparking political outrage and protests.
The incident took place near R Mall in the Ganesh Nagar area of Manpada, within the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi Police Station. Police said that motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire at Purnekar outside his office before attacking him with a sharp-edged weapon. He sustained gunshot wounds to his chest.
Purnekar was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries.
DCP Prashant Kadam said police had formed nine special teams to arrest the assailants and an investigation was underway. Police have so far detained two suspects, while five people are initially suspected to have been involved in the attack.
Following Purnekar’s killing, tensions were reported in several areas, including Manpada and Manorama Nagar. Family members and supporters staged a sit-in outside the police station and refused to accept the body or perform the final rites until all culprits and the key conspirators were arrested. Senior party leaders, including Kedar Dighe and Rajan Vichare, joined the protest at the police station.
Expressing deep grief and anger over the killing, Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray criticized the state government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.
“This incident is deeply infuriating and despicable. It has been proven time and again that law and order in this state has completely collapsed. Living safely has become difficult for the common man,” he said.
Shiv Sena-UBT MP Sanjay Raut also strongly criticized the state government and the Home Ministry.
Raut said that Purnekar had been locked in a local political struggle and had been raising his voice against the builder lobby and drug syndicates operating in the Manorama Nagar area.
In a post on X, Raut said: “Pradeep Purnekar was shot and killed; this is a total humiliation of the Home Ministry.”
