Yesterday, a Congress leader in Bhiwandi civic body was shot dead. In connection with the murder case, Mumbai police today booked at least eight persons, including the cousin of the deceased.
Manoj Mhatre was a corporator and leader of the party in Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC). He was attacked last night around 9.30 pm at Oswalwadi in Bhiwandi by eight unidentified assailants. He was attacked when he was returning home after attending a meeting.
The Joint Commissioner of Police – Ashutosh Dumbre told media that the cousin of Manoj – Prashant Mhatre allegedly planned the murder because he wanted to get a party ticket from the ward of the deceased for the upcoming municipal elections.
The commissioner added that the police have arrested eight persons, including Prashant, the driver of Manoj, two attackers and others in this connection. No arrest has been made so far and four teams have been formed to nab the accused.
At the night of the incident, the driver of Mhatre was parking the car, then Manoj got down from the vehicle and was heading to his place. One attacker came from behind and fired three bullets on him and others assailants attacked with swords. His hand was also chopped off. The attackers fled away on four motorcycles after making sure that he was dead.
Manoj Mhatre was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Thane, but he did not survive.
Police saw the CCTV cameras, which captured the whole incident. A case had been registered against unidentified attackers at Narpoli police station.
