Who Was Pradeep Purnekar? Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Shot Dead Outside His Office in Thane’s Manpada

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants in the Manpada-Ganesh Nagar area of Thane late on Tuesday night, September 29. The incident has heightened political tensions across the city, prompting local law enforcement to deploy armed police units and initiate a comprehensive manhunt to track down the shooters.

According to police, the incident took place around 9:30 pm in front of Purnekar’s office, where unidentified attackers allegedly opened fire at him before fleeing from the spot. The firing triggered tension in Manpada and Manorama Nagar, with party workers and local residents gathering in large numbers outside the establishment immediately after hearing the gunfire. Bihar BJYM Leader Shot Dead in Locked House; Abhijit Singh Rajput Found After 2 Days.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Pradeep Purnekar Shot Dead

Shiv Sena (UBT) Leader Pradeep Purnekar Shot Dead in Thane

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot dead in Thane’s Manpada area, triggering tension in the locality. Police have identified five suspected accused — Nikhil Yadav, Papya Shinde, Akash Nimse, Santosh Kanojiya… pic.twitter.com/mLPxSrABuP

— Atulkrishan (@iAtulKrishan1) September 30, 2026

#WATCH | Thane, Maharashtra: On the Pradip Purnekar shooting case, Joint Commissioner of Police Dnyaneshwar Chavan says, "Last night, around 9.30 PM, an unidentified individual entered the office and attacked the victim using a firearm, resulting in his death. Preliminary… pic.twitter.com/fJiaCGaPwa

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2026

Who Was Pradeep Purnekar?

Pradeep Purnekar, widely known locally as 'Balu', served as the Thane Vibhag Pramukh (division head) for the Shiv Sena (UBT). A prominent ground-level political figure in the Manpada and Ghodbunder Road belt, he was closely associated with senior party leadership, including former Thane Member of Parliament Rajan Vichare.

Purnekar's family has long been rooted in civic politics in Thane. His brother, Jaynath Purnekar, is a former corporator with the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), and his wife, Vijeta Purnekar, has also contested civic body elections in the past. He was actively involved in local civic interventions, ward-level organisation, and public grievance resolution in the Manpada-Ganesh Nagar locality.

Assailants Fire Multiple Rounds Outside Party Office

According to investigators, the assailants arrived on a motorcycle, confronted Purnekar outside his premises, and opened fire at point-blank range. Purnekar sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

Emergency responders initially shifted him to a private facility on Ghodbunder Road, where attending doctors pronounced him dead during emergency care. His body is being sent to JJ Hospital in Mumbai for post-mortem examination.

Following the incident, police cordoned off the area and launched an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify the accused. Security has been heightened in the area, with additional police teams and personnel from the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) deployed to prevent any potential law-and-order flare-ups.

The Kapurbawdi police and the Thane Crime Branch have set up nakabandis (checkpoints) and are scanning CCTV footage from surrounding roads to trace the escape route of the bike-borne shooters. Police are examining available evidence and gathering information to establish the motive behind the attack, exploring all potential angles, including political rivalry and personal disputes. Further details are awaited.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 30, 2026 06:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).