Bhiwandi Cong leader murder: Deceased's cousin among 8 booked

A day after a Congress leader in Bhiwandi civic body was shot dead, police today booked at least eight persons, including the cousin of the deceased, in connection with the case.

According to police, political rivalry was the motive behind the murder.

Manoj Mhatre, a corporator and leader of the party in Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC) was fatally attacked last night around 9.30 pm at Oswalwadi in Bhiwandi by eight unidentified assailants as he returned home after attending a meeting, police said.

"Manoj's cousin Prashant Mhatre allegedly planned the murder as he wanted to get a party ticket from the deceased's ward for the upcoming municipal elections," Ashutosh Dumbre, Joint Commissioner of Police, Thane told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)