MUMBAI: Tearing into the Eknath Shinde-led NDA government in the state after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar was shot dead in Mumbai on Thursday, former minister and party leader Aaditya Thackeray said such lawlessness never prevailed under previous regimes.
Ghosalkar was reportedly shot at by a lone assailant, identified as Morris Noronha, in the Dahisar area of Mumbai. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Later, the assailant, Noronha, too, shot himself dead, according to the police.
Claiming a total breakdown of law and order under the current dispensation, Aaditya Thackeray took to his official X handle to post, “Maharashtra has seen lawlessness like never before. It is shocking beyond words to see the law-and-order situation fail as it has today. Does the system exist at all to protect the common man? Does fear of the law exist? Administration has fully crumbled to being absent.”
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police said it had not issued any licenced firearm to the assailant, Noronha.
“The weapon used in the firing incident in the Dahisar area is suspected to be an illegal firearm. No arms licence was issued to Morris by the Mumbai Police. The case involving the murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar has been handed over to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Further investigation is underway,” the Mumbai Police said in a statement.
घोसाळकरांवरील गोळीबारानंतर आदित्य ठाकरेंची पहिली प्रतिक्रिया#abhishekghosalkar @AUThackeray pic.twitter.com/59Gx3PkznB
— News18Lokmat (@News18lokmat) February 8, 2024
The mortal remains of the deceased Sena (UBT) leader were taken to the state-run JJ Hospital for a post-mortem.
The incident evoked fury from several Opposition leaders in the state, with Sena (UBT) leader and MP Sanjay Raut demanding the resignation of CM Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis.
Taking to his official X handle, Raut posted, “There is a reign of goons in Maharashtra! Morish Noronha, who shot Abhishek Ghosalkar four days ago, was at the (CM’s) bungalow. The chief minister met him.”
“Morris was invited to join the Shinde Sena. (Devendra) Fadnavis has proved to be a complete failure as Home Minister. He must resign,” Raut claimed in his post.
Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the incident marks the beginning of ‘Jungle Raj’ in the state.
“There is no rule of law in Maharashtra. Law and order have collapsed in the state. Such incidents of firing by the MLAs of the ruling party mark the beginning of ‘Jungle Raj’ (in Maharashtra),” Patole told ANI on Thursday.
Significantly, this was the second such incident this month.
In a similar incident earlier, BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly opened fire at Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad at Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar, triggering sharp reactions from Opposition leaders. (ANI)