Congress corporator Manoj Mhatre from Bhiwandi shot dead

Congress leader Manoj Mhatre from Bhiwandi civic body was shot dead by a couple of unidentified persons late Tuesday night. The incident took place around 9:30 pm.

Mhatre, a leader of Congress party in the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation in the powerloom town, was attacked with sharp weapons (koyta) by the assailants and then fired at from point blank range, said police.

DCP Bhiwandi Zone-II Manoj Patil said, Mhatre was the resident of Kalwa of Bhiwandi taluka. Due to personal enmity he shifted to Oswal Wadi in Thane.

After the attack the assailants fled in a four-wheeler without number plate, said the police. He was subsequently rushed to Jupiter Hospital at Thane, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The motive behind the killing is not yet known. According to police, this was not the first attempt on Mhatre’s life.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot and a manhunt has been launched to nab the killers. Meanwhile, a murder case has been registered at Narpoli police station.

“A case has been registered and teams have been formed to identify and arrest the accused,” said Parag Manere, DCP, Thane Crime Branch.

The incident comes days before the upcoming civic body polls in the state.

Update (9:30 am): The incident was caught on CCTV and can be viewed here (disturbing imagery, discretion advised)

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