Following the brutal murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar in Thane, a demand for a CBI probe has intensified amidst allegations of political pressure and planned opposition protests over law and order concerns.
Key Points
- Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare has demanded a CBI investigation into the murder of party leader Pradeep Purnekar, citing concerns about political pressure on local police.
- Opposition parties, including Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), MNS, Congress, AAP, Dharmarajya Paksha, and RPI, are organising a protest march on October 9 against the deteriorating law and order in Thane.
- Police have arrested two individuals, Nikhil Yadav and Nitesh Pawar, in connection with Purnekar's murder, with one earlier arrest of Papya Shinde, and are actively searching for other accused.
- Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare criticised opposition leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, for allegedly politicising the incident and accused Sena (UBT) of neglecting families of deceased party workers.
- The murder of Pradeep Purnekar, a local Sena (UBT) office-bearer, involved assailants opening fire and attacking him with sharp weapons inside his office.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare on Saturday visited the family of slain party leader Pradeep Purnekar here and demanded a CBI probe into his murder, even as Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare accused opposition leaders of playing politics.
Opposition parties also announced a protest march to the Thane police commissioner's office on October 9 to highlight the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
Purnekar, a local Sena (UBT) office-bearer, was brutally murdered inside his office by a group of assailants who opened fire and attacked him with sharp weapons on Tuesday.
Demand For CBI Probe And Opposition Protest
Addressing a press conference after meeting the family, Andhare claimed that it was a contract killing. As police could face political pressure from local leaders, the case should be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), she said.
Earlier in the day, Opposition parties announced a protest march to the Thane Police Commissionerate on October 9.
Leaders including former MP Rajan Vichare of the Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Avinash Jadhav along with leaders of the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Dharmarajya Paksha and Republican Party of India held a press conference and announced the protest march.
Police Investigation And Political Accusations
The police on Friday arrested Nikhil Yadav, the alleged shooter, and accomplice Nitesh Pawar near Pen in Raigad district. The investigators had earlier arrested Papya Shinde, a former aide of Purnekar.
Police are looking for the other accused, while witness statements are being recorded, said a member of the Special Investigation Team that is probing the case.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha member Jyoti Waghmare alleged that opposition leaders were visiting Thane to play politics over tragic incidents.
Addressing a press conference, the Shiv Sena leader slammed Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to the city following Purnekar's murder.
She claimed that Sena (UBT) had failed to extend basic courtesy or financial assistance to the families of "fallen Shiv Sainiks or party workers injured in accidents while travelling to its annual Dussehra rally".
She also said that former mayor Meenakshi Shinde was being dragged into the controversy without any connection to the murder case. "Uddhav Thackeray frequently visits Thane because it is the home turf of Deputy CM Eknath Shinde," she claimed.
