India, Sept. 30 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants in the Manpada-Ganesh Nagar area of Maharashtra's Thane late on Tuesday night.

The incident, which occurred around 9:30 pm on Tuesday in front of Purnekar's office in the Kapurbawdi police station limits, sparked tension in the area and widespread concern among local party workers and supporters. Unidentified attackers allegedly opened fire on the deceased before fleeing from the spot.

Purnekar, the Thane 'vibhag pramukh', or division head of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT), sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and succumbed to his injuries, officials told news agency PTI. His body is being sent to JJ Hospital in Mumba...