Pradeep Purnekar, the Thane division head (vibhag pramukh) for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), is dead. He succumbed to severe gunshot wounds at Infinity Hospital on Ghodbunder Road after unidentified assailants fired two rounds and assaulted him in Thane on Tuesday night, around 9 pm.
Police confirmed the incident occurred under the jurisdiction of the Kapurbawdi police station. Medical staff rushed to intervene upon his arrival, but Purnekar passed away during treatment. The attack quickly sparked tension in the area, drawing a surge of concerned local party workers and supporters to the scene.
A police team secured the crime scene to collect forensic evidence. Investigators are currently scanning CCTV footage from the site and surrounding arterial roads to map the perpetrators' escape routes. To prevent the suspects from fleeing the city, authorities have established 'nakabandi' or checkpoints across major exits in Thane.
The motive behind the assassination remains unclear, with police stating they are investigating all potential angles, including political rivalry and personal enmity. Meanwhile, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have issued a sharp demand for the immediate arrest of the culprits and a swift, transparent investigation into the killing.
The police are working to identify the gunmen, with the next critical step being the analysis of the captured footage to pinpoint the escape vehicles and suspects.