Mandal chief murdered

PUNE, Sept 25: Vijay Vasantrao Takwale, a Congress worker and president of Vanraj Ganesh Mandal of Shukrawar Peth, was hacked to death on Shivaji Road early this morning.

An autorickshaw driver noticed Takawale8217;s blood-soaked body lying in front of the mandal8217;s Ganesh temple near the Yadav Vyapar Bhavan around 6.30 am. Takawale had left is house about half an hour earlier for his stationery shop located near the Shivaji Maratha School. The identities of the killers could not be ascertained till late evening.

Takawale, who was apparently killed while performing daily pooja, bore six deep stab wounds on his head, face, stomach and legs, said police inspector Vishwas Patil of the Khadak police station.