Pune: Former NCP Corporator Shot Dead, Attackers Cut Power Before Firing Multiple Rounds

In a shocking incident on Sunday, Vanraj Andekar, a former councillor of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was shot dead in Pune, Maharashtra. The incident occurred around 8:30 PM in the bustling Nana Peth area, outside Doke Talim. According to police reports, Andekar was shot multiple times, with five bullets being fired at him. Despite being rushed to KEM Hospital in critical condition, he succumbed to his injuries.

The police have revealed that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute. Prior to the attack, the lights in the area were turned off, indicating a premeditated act. The assailants, reportedly three to four individuals on two-wheelers, first attacked Andekar with a sharp weapon before shooting him. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the incident.

 

#पुणे के पूर्व नगरसेवक वनराज अंडेकर की नाना पेठ में बाइक सवार हमलावरों ने गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी। हमले से पहले स्ट्रीट लाइट्स बंद कर दी गईं। अंडेकर को गोली मारने के बाद धारदार हथियार से भी हमला हुआ। पुलिस ने अब तक दो गिरफ्तारियां की हैं। #Pune #VanrajAndekar #ncpol #AjitPawar… pic.twitter.com/faRrMU9X7Q

— Hindi States (@HindiStates) September 2, 2024

Vanraj Andekar, who had been elected as a municipal councillor in the 2017 Pune Municipal Corporation elections under the NCP banner, was well-known in the area. His cousin, Udaykant Andekar, had also served as a councillor. The police have launched an investigation and are actively searching for the perpetrators.

This murder has sparked political outrage, especially in light of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. The incident has led to increased concerns about the state's law and order situation. Opposition parties have criticized the ruling government, accusing it of failing to maintain public safety. The tension in Pune has heightened following this killing, especially as it comes shortly after another high-profile case in the city where a brother and sister-in-law were murdered.

The police are on high alert, and efforts are underway to ensure that those responsible are apprehended quickly. The incident underscores the growing political and social tensions in Maharashtra as the election season approaches.