Shiv Sena Leader's Murder Result of Internal Gang Conflict, Claims Maharashtra Minister

A viral video of the incident, which took place at assailant Mauris Noronha's office in IC Colony in the northern suburb of Borivali (West) on Thursday evening, showed ex-corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar being shot in the abdomen and shoulder.

Thane: Maharashtra's Minister of Industries, Uday Samant, strongly condemned the tragic killing of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, attributing it to an ongoing "gang war" involving the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. Ghosalkar was fatally shot on Thursday evening during a 'Facebook Live' session by a local 'social activist', who then took his own life.

Speaking at a press conference, Samant expressed his dismay over the loss of life in such a manner, regardless of political differences, and called for collective efforts to uphold peace and security in the state. He suggested a deeper connection between the assailant, Mauris Noronha, and top Sena (UBT) leaders, citing alleged evidence from Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' featuring Noronha alongside party leaders.

Samant disputed Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's assertion that Noronha had recently met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, labeling it as misleading. He also questioned the relevance of Shiv Sena in the context of the conversation between Ghosalkar and Noronha, urging a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder.

In response to inquiries regarding calls for President's Rule in Maharashtra, Samant pointed out that similar demands were not made after the Palghar incident in 2020, referring to the lynching of two sadhus suspected of child abduction.