A 49-year-old shopkeeper, recently appointed deputy shakha pramukh by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction, was allegedly stabbed to death by two hawkers in Thane around 10.30pm on Tuesday. Ravindra Pardeshi was appointed to the post around a month ago.
Senior inspector Jayraj Ranaware of Thane city police said, “Pardeshi was on his way home when he was accosted and stabbed multiple times by the suspects who are hawkers. The incident occurred around 10.30 pm at Ramdaswadi Society in the Jambli Naka area of Thane. Pardeshi was rushed to Jupiter Hospital in Thane where he succumbed to his injuries at around 12.45am on Wednesday.”
According to the police, the incident resulted from an argument over some space in the market. “Dhruv Patwa and Pardeshi's shop are located nearby. On Tuesday morning, they had an argument over space. When Pardeshi was returning home at night, Patwa and Ashraf Ali accosted him while the latter stabbed him several times with a koyta (sickle),” Ranaware said, adding that both men have been arrested.
Meanwhile, a few hawkers alleged that Pardeshi was extorting money from them, but Ranaware rejected these claims.
