Political enmity has taken place among the political parties three months ahead of the civic election when BJP chief of Pimpri-Chinchwad unit Ankush Landge (45) was brutally murdered by a rival gang.
Tension prevailed in Bhosari suburb of Pimpri-Chinchwad when angry supporters of Landge lynched two suspected murderers and went on rampage.
Funeral of Landge took place amidst a tense atmosphere on Wednesday which was attended by senior party leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari. Both Munde and Gadkari described the murder of Landge as a political conspiracy and demand a CID inquiry.
Police Commissioner DN Jadhav refused to make any specific comment on the political factor involved in the incident. Jadhav told Hindustan Times that three suspected, involved in the clash are detained so far.
Suburb of Bhosari, known for its industrial activities, witnessed tension all the night on Tuesaday when Landge was hacked to death by the rivals in front of his house. The incident took place when he tried to pacify two quarrelling groups of local youth. He was returning after attending a party meeting.
Angry supporters of Landge gathered at the site within few minutes and went berserk. Two jeeps and houses of rival Dhawde family were damaged in the incident. The mob also chased suspected assailants of Landge and virtually lynched them. Chandrakant Dhawde and another person died in the mob attack.
Another person connected with Dhawde family is admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. Both of them are yet to be identified.
Landge was an influential politician in Pimpri-Chinchwad, which is supposed to be one of the richest municipal corporation in Maharashtra. He first won the election in 1992 and soon became leader of the opposition in the house. He was also heading the BJP city unit for quite a long time. He was recently re-elected as party president of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
BJP workers in Pimpri-Chinchwad were shocked over the incident as Landge is said to be one of those who made the party powerful in Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
It was during his tenure that BJP could increase its strength of corporators from three to 15 in the last election. BJP sources said that the party was hoping to bag as many as 35 seats in the next civic elections under Landge's leadership.
Landge was also considered to be one of the top aspirant to represent the newly carved Bhosari Assembly constituency.
Angry supporters of Landge gathered at the site within few minutes and went berserk. Two jeeps and houses of rival Dhawde family were damaged in the incident. The mob also chased suspected assailants of Landge and virtually lynched them. Chandrakant Dhawde and another person died in the mob attack.
Another person connected with Dhawde family is admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. Both of them are yet to be identified.
Landge was an influential politician in Pimpri-Chinchwad, which is supposed to be one of the richest municipal corporation in Maharashtra. He first won the election in 1992 and soon became leader of the opposition in the house. He was also heading the BJP city unit for quite a long time. He was recently re-elected as party president of Pimpri-Chinchwad.
BJP workers in Pimpri-Chinchwad were shocked over the incident as Landge is said to be one of those who made the party powerful in Pimpri-Chinchwad area.
It was during his tenure that BJP could increase its strength of corporators from three to 15 in the last election. BJP sources said that the party was hoping to bag as many as 35 seats in the next civic elections under Landge's leadership.
Landge was also considered to be one of the top aspirant to represent the newly carved Bhosari Assembly constituency.