BJP corporator among 5 killed in Maharashtra’s Bhusawal

Police said that Kharat, who had a police record, was elected corporator on a BJP ticket in the Bhusaval municipal council elections held about a year ago.

A police officer said that around 9.30 pm three assailants entered Kharat’s house and opened fire with two firearms and also attacked people with sharp weapons and rocks. Eight persons were injured in the attack and rushed to hospital.

Five of them — including Kharat, his two sons Sagar (24) and Sumit (20), elder brother Sunil (55), and his friend Sumit Gajare were either declared brought dead or succumbed to injuries.

Three others — Kharat’s wife Rajani, son Ritesh and one Suraj Sapkale — were critically injured and are being treated at a hospital in Bhusaval. Police have started recording statements of the injured.

DSP Gajanan Rathod said, “Five persons have been killed and three seriously injured. Within hours of the incident, we have arrested three persons who are currently being questioned. We have some clues about the motive but will be able to give information after further probe. The assailants do not have criminal records, that we know of. We have recovered two firearms from the crime scene.”

Rathod refused to comment on whether there were any more people involved in the crime. Police said Kharat had multiple offences registered against him ranging from extortion, assault and criminal intimidation and has faced preventive detention under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act in the past.

The three arrested men have been identified as Mayuresh Surwade, Shekhar Moghe and Mohsin Asgar Khan. A senior officer said, “At this juncture, we do not see any political angle to the incident. It seems like a fallout of a past dispute with links to criminal activities. Our teams have been busy completing procedures related to autopsy and inquest. A thorough probe will be launched. We do not deny the possibility of more people being involved in the crime.”