Ex-MLA’s driver pulls trigger on NCP party worker

Mangesh Waghmare (38), who is employed as a driver with former NCP legislator Milind Kamble, shot at a party worker five times at a construction site in Kurla (east) Friday evening.

The driver reportedly had a personal grievance against the party worker identified as Anil Bhise.

Mr Bhise was admitted to the civic-run Sion Hospital and is being treated for injuries. After targeting Mr Bhise, Waghmare surrendered to the local Mumbai crime branch unit.

According to police officials, the incident occurred around 4.30 pm at the construction site located at Pragati Society in Nehru Nagar. The construction work was being carried out by the former legislator’s aides, and Waghmare had been working with him for the last six months.

“Waghmare had a personal grudge against Bhise. They had been quarrelling with each other for the past few days. Mr Kamble himself had noticed their quarrels several times. On Friday, when both of them were on the construction site, a fight ensued between the two once again, following which Waghmare produced a licence gun, owned by the MLA, and shot at Bhise five times. At that time, Mr Kamble was in his cabin. The accused then fled the spot immediately with the gun.”

“I heard the sound of gun shots and came out of the cabin. I saw Bhise lying in a blood pool. I took him to Rajawadi Hospital immediately and later to Sion Hospital,” said Mr Kamble.

Mr Bhise is a resident of Takshshila Nagar in Kurla and had been working with the MLA for the past seven years. Bhise recruited Waghmare a few months ago. The police said that Waghmare who knew a police official in the crime branch, called him two hours after the incident, and then surrendered.”