BJP's Kalyan East MLA Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly shot Shiv Sena Eknath Shinde faction leader Mahesh Gaikwad on Friday night at the Hill Line Police Station in Ulhasnagar, Maharashtra, said police. The BJP MLAs' gun was seized after an FIR was registered in the case.
Both Gaikwads have been at loggerheads over the candidature of Kalyan East Legislative Assembly seat. But the latest incident is reportedly due to a land dispute. Both leaders have openly targeted each other, often over lack of civic progress in the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). This has brought to the fore the differences at the local level despite unity between the two parties at the state and national level.
Additional Commissioner of Police Dattatrya Shinde said Ganpat Gaikwad's son had come to the police station to file a complaint over a land dispute when Mahesh and his men arrived. Later, Ganpat also reached the police station.
During an altercation, Ganpat fired shots at Mahesh inside the senior inspector's chamber, injuring him and his associate, the official said.
"Yes, I shot (him) myself. I have no regrets. If my son is being beaten in front of the police inside the police station, what will I do," the BJP lawmaker told a news channel.
Ganpat alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is trying to create a kingdom of criminals in the state. "If Eknath Shinde is the chief minister, only criminals will be born in Maharashtra. He has made a good person like me a criminal today," the MLA was quoted as saying.
At least five bullets were reportedly fired at the Shinde faction's Kalyan (East) city president Mahesh and his supporter around 10.30 pm while they were having a conversation with the BJP legislator in the presence of Senior Inspector Anil Jagtap at the police station.
Mahesh and his supporter were rushed to Jupiter Hospital in Thane. Later, he underwent surgery, which was successful, and is currently recovering.
"Mahesh Gaikwad and Ganpat Gaikwad had differences about something, and they came to the police station to make a complaint. At that time, they talked, and Ganpat Gaikwad fired at Mahesh Gaikwad and his people. Two people have been injured in this. An investigation is underway," ANI quoted DCP Sudhakar Pathare as saying.
