Pune Gangland: Gangland-Style Execution Shocks Pune City: ABS District Chief Gunned Down
By India Crime Correspondent
PUNE, 15 July, 2010
In a shocking turn of events, the Narveer Tanajiwadi area in Shivajinagar witnessed a brazen act of violence resembling a gangland execution. Shekhar Sadashiv Waghmare (35), the district unit chief of Arun Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena (ABS), was targeted in a car chase followed by a point-blank shooting around 11:30 am on Thursday.
Swift Fatality:
The victim, Shekhar Sadashiv Waghmare, fell victim to a swift and lethal attack. He was fatally shot at close range with a single round that struck his neck.
A resident of the Indrayaninagar area in Alandi, Waghmare leaves behind his wife Savita and two sons, Raj (11) and Prem (10).
Dramatic Sequence of Events:
Waghmare’s final moments were marked by a dramatic car chase. Assailants driving a red Maruti Zen pursued Waghmare, who was operating a Wagon-R.
The assailants’ gunfire led to Waghmare’s vehicle colliding with a stationary private bus, ultimately ending the pursuit.
A History of Offenses:
Waghmare’s background reveals a history of criminal activity. A total of 11 cases, including extortion and brawls, have been lodged against him.
Savita, Waghmare’s wife, has come forward with suspicions regarding the possible culprits behind the assassination. She points to a city engineer, two builders, and the former city unit chief of Akhil Bharatiya Sena, Shashi Taware.
Troubled Relationships:
Savita’s account sheds light on Waghmare’s strained relationships within his political circle and the construction industry.
She highlights his concerns about being threatened by certain party members and builders.
Mysterious Departure:
On the day of the incident, Waghmare left home around 8:30 am after receiving a call, failing to disclose his destination.
Savita later learned of the tragedy when approached by the police in the afternoon. She reveals that she assumed he was heading to Lonavala or to visit his mistress in Yerwada.
Clash Over a Building Project:
The investigation unravels an ongoing dispute centered around an under-construction building project on a 60,000 square-feet plot in Wadgaonsheri.
Waghmare’s opposition to the project’s encroachment on a nullah (drain) led to his agitation against it.
Planned Protest and Tragic Timing:
A planned protest by ABS against the construction project’s encroachment on Thursday afternoon took a tragic turn due to the untimely incident.
Waghmare, who had assumed the role of district president merely four months prior, was scheduled to join the protest.
The episode cast a shadow over preparations for an upcoming event commemorating ABS founder president Arun Gawli’s birthday on July 17.
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