RPI activist murdered in Thane

Thane: A 22-year-old activist of the Republican Party of India (RPI) was killed allegedly by a group of eight persons over a dispute in the district's Ulhasnagar township, police said on Wednesday.

The killing sparked protest by RPI activists who allegedly damaged vehicles on the streets in Ulhasnagar, they said.

No arrest has been made so far in this connection.

The victim, Deepak Sansare, was called by the accused to camp no 2 of the township at around 10.30 PM last night to settle a dispute.

When Sansare arrived at the spot, the accused attacked him with chopper, sword and iron rods, killing him on the spot, police said.

The eight assailants have been identified, and a manhunt has been launched to nab them, they said.

The Ulhasnagar police have registered offences against the accused under sections 302 (murder), 120B (punishment for criminal conspiracy), 143 (unlawful assembly), 144, 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 of the IPC, section 4 (25) of the Arms Act, and also section 37(1) of the Bombay Police Act, police said.

The accused and the victim had a dispute since last year, and a week back also, they had a quarrel over the same.

Meanwhile, on getting news of the murder, several RPI activists came out on the streets late last night and allegedly damaged over two dozen vehicles, police said.

Senior officials from Thane Police Commissionerate rushed to the township and brought the situation under control.