In a shocking incident, a local Shiv Sena leader was murdered in a midnight attack by a group of motorbike-borne assailants in Pune, police said on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Deepak Maratkar, an office-bearer of the Shiv Sena's youth wing - Yuva Sena - and son of former party corporator Vijay Maratkar, they said.
The attack, involving about half-a-dozen people, took place past Thursday midnight at around 12.30 am when the deceased was with his friend in the Budhwar Peth area in the heart of the city, the police said.
"The assailants came on motorbikes and some of them attacked Maratkar with sharp-edged weapons. As he started running, he was attacked by others.
"Five to six people attacked him with sharp-edged weapons," said an officer from the Faraskhana police station.
The Sena leader was rushed to a hospital where he died, the officer said.
"We suspect political rivalry to be the reason behind the act and three persons have been detained and our investigation is on," police said.
A case has been registered with the Faraskhana police station.