Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar shot dead at Thane office; two detained

Thane police have detained two men for questioning in connection with the killing of Pradeep Purnekar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Thane vibhag pramukh, who was shot and attacked at his office in the Manpada area on Tuesday night.

According to the police, the attack took place around 9 p.m. under the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi police station. Mr. Purnekar sustained serious bullet injuries and was rushed to Infinity Hospital near R Mall on Ghodbunder Road, where he died during treatment.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Prashant Kadam said five suspects had emerged during the investigation: Nikhil Yadav, Papya Shinde, Akash Nimse, Santosh Kanojia and one person who has not yet been identified. Mr. Shinde and Mr. Nimse have been detained for questioning, while efforts are on to trace the others.

Police said Mr. Purnekar was at his office when two assailants entered and opened fire at him, and also attacked him with a sharp weapon. The assailants had their faces covered and fled from the spot after the attack, the police said.

Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the spot and from surrounding roads, along with other technical evidence, to establish the sequence of events and trace the movements of those involved. Multiple teams have been formed to track them down.

The Kapurbawdi police have registered an offence and are investigating. Police said they are looking into both the motive behind the killing and the role of the two men detained for questioning. No motive has been officially established so far.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut reacted to the killing by questioning the law-and-order situation in Thane. He alleged that Mr. Purnekar had been opposing illegal activities and certain redevelopment-related interests in the area, and demanded that those responsible be arrested. The police have not commented on these allegations, and the investigation has not so far established any link between them and the killing.

The two men in custody have been detained for questioning and have not been named as accused in the case. Under Indian law, a person detained by the police must be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, and every person is presumed innocent unless guilt is proved in court.

Mr. Purnekar held the post of Thane vibhag pramukh, a district-level organisational position in the Shiv Sena (UBT). The Manpada area, where his office is located, is a busy residential and commercial locality along the Ghodbunder Road corridor in Thane.

Police said the investigation is continuing and that they are working to identify and trace all those involved. Further details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses.