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Journalism of Courage
A Maharashtra political rivalry turned bitter yet again on Thursday night as two members of the two opposing Shiv Sena camps died in a firing in Borivali. While the Uddhav Thackaery (UBT) faction leader, Abhishek Ghosalkar, was murdered on a Facebook live stream; the team Shinde leader, Mauris Noronha, was held for pulling the fatal trigger before turning the gun on himself.
A sena leader, Abhishek Ghosalkar, joined the UBT team after the party split into its two current factions.
Ghosalkar, 41, was the son of a former Shiv Sena MLA from Dahisar, Vinod Ghosalkar, and was elected as a corporator in 2012 from Ward number 1 in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). A resident of Kandarpada area, Ghosalkar was also a prominent youth leader of the Sena UBT from North Mumbai.
Ghosalkar and his assailant, businessman Mauris Noronha, allegedly shared an old rivalry, with Ghosalkar having also filed an FIR against Noronha over a previous dispute. Sources have said that while the former had been lodged well into state politics, the latter had similar political ambitions.
The gruesome incident took place on Thursday night as Ghosalkar joined Noronha for a charity event involving donating sarees to the poor and working women. During the event, which was live streamed on Facebook by Noronha, the two leaders are seen talking with each other comfortably and claiming they have reached a reconciliation and chosen to leave their rivalry behind.
“It is a good decision to work together for the betterment of the public… we are distributing sari to 300 working and needy women. We will work together and serve the people of Kandarpada. We have taken this resolution on this new year, which is a new time beginning of our friendship and collaboration,” Abhishek said during the session.
However, the tables turned yet again as Noronha fired shots at Ghosalkar, before pulling the trigger on himself which were heard on the live stream as the camera continued rolling.
Ghosalkar was then rushed to the nearby Karuna Hospital where he was pronounced dead during treatment. He was shot in multiple parts of his body which include his ribs and his back.
A senior IPS officer speaking to The Indian Express informed that Ghosalkar’s body will be taken to Sir JJ Hospital for a postmortem report, details of which will be shared later.
After Ghosalkar’s murder, Shiv Sena UBT workers gathered outside the Karuna hospital in huge numbers and police had to call additional force to maintain law and order.
The incident at Borivali comes just a week after the Thane incident where Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ganesh Gaikwad opened fire and injured Shiv Sena Shinde leader Mahesh Gaikwad. The two incidents have caused grave concern for the law and order situation in the state.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned the law and order situation. He said, “There is a government of goons in the state. There is no law and order in the state. First the firing took place in Kalyan and now in Mumbai.”
Furthermore, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who holds the home portfolio. “There is a rule of gangsters in Maharashtra. The chief minister and his people meet goons everyday and induct them into their party. The home minister has disappeared and the state is in the hands of gangsters. That is why there is no fear of law and police are left to serve the Shinde gang (faction),” said Raut.
