Shiv Sena leader Sachin Sawant shot dead by bike-borne assailants in Kandivali
Sawant (inset) was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants in Kandivali (Picture: ANI)
Local Shiv Sena leader Sachin Sawant from Kurar was allegedly shot dead by two motorbike-borne assailants in Mumbai’s Kandivali area on Sunday night.
The incident took place around 8 pm when two persons on a motorcycle allegedly called out to Sawant while he was riding pillion on a Royal Enfield in Gokul Nagar area of Kandivali East.
After coming close to him, they masked assailants fired four rounds at the Sena leader and fled. The attackers reportedly used an Indian-made gun.
Bystanders rushed Sawant to the nearby Ambedkar Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The leader had been shot in the chest and his body was sent to Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali for a post-mortem.
Kurar police subsequently booked the unidentified men for murder and launched an investigation into the matter.
“As of now, we do not know how many people were involved in this. We are investigating the matter. We will look into all aspects of the case,” said DCP Vikram Deshmane.
CCTV from the nearby area is also being procured. The crime branch, meanwhile, has launched a parallel probe.
Sawant had been in the Sena for over two decades. It is speculated that the former Upa-Shakha Pramukh (Deputy Branch Head of Shiv Sena) from Kurar was attacked over a personal rivalry or property dispute. He had faced a similar attack in 2009.
The attack on Sawant was the third time a Sena leader was attacked this year. Earlier this month, two Sena leaders were shot dead in Ahmednagar. Prior to that, in January, Sena leader Ashok Sawant was shot dead in Kandivali.
