Former corporator of Pune Municipal Corporation, Vanraj Andekar was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Sunday. According to the police, the former Nationalist Congress Party (undivided) corporator was attacked with a sharp weapon before the assailants opened fire at him.
Speaking to reporters, Pune Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma said that the former corporator, Vanraj Andekar was standing with his cousin when miscreants opened fire and attacked with a sharp weapon.
"Tonight around 9:30, Vanraj Andekar (Former Corporator of Ajit Pawar's NCP faction) was standing with his cousin at Imaandar Chowk. Some people came and attacked them. During this attack, 5 rounds were fired, as per the information received at first sight and they were also attacked with sharp weapons," the DCP said.
The police official said it was not clear who the attackers were and what their motive behind the murder was but assured that police were searching for the accused and would arrest them.
Some known people whose names have appeared in this are being questioned, the DCP said, adding that the death was due to a sharp weapon.
Sharma said that Andekar was taken to King Edward Memorial Hospital where he was declared brought dead and his dead body was sent to Sassoon Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Vanraj is the son of Bandu alias Suryakant Andekar, a key member of Andekar gang, as per a Hindustan Times report. The police suspect a dispute within the extended family as a probable reason behind the attack.
The police are also suspecting that the electricity supply in the locality was disconnected before firing.
Vanraj was elected as a corporator at Pune Municipal Corporation from the Rasta Peth - Raviwar Peth ward in 2017. His mother, Rajashree Andekar was elected as a corporator in 2007 and 2012.