BJP leader’s hands cut off

Pune, March 5: Assailants owing allegiance to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) allegedly chopped off both hands of Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Sangvi leader Shashikant Sudam Shitole on Monday morning.

In the backdrop of what the police suspect to be a fallout between NCP and BJP, Shitole lost both his hands after an unidentified group of people accosted him as he was on his way home on a motorcycle.

The 32-year-old resident of Navi Sangvi, on a bike with friend Mithun and daughter, was confronted by the assailants near Sanskrutik Lawn in New Sangavi at about 10 am. They threatened Shitole with dire consequences for working against their political interests and moments later drew out choppers and swords before striking him on the head and shoulders.

In the ensuing melee, Mithun took Shitole’s daughter and fled the spot. A bleeding Shitole was later rushed to Sancheti Hospital where doctors described his condition as critical.

Shitole had contested the elections from PCMC Ward No 91 on a BJP ticket against Prashant Shitole of the NCP and Raghunath Shitole of the Congress party. The NCP won the seat but the bitter rivalry continued resulting in Monday’s incident.

The police have arrested Vijay Jagtap and Dhananjay Dore (both 24 years of age) — both from Sangvi — in connection with the attack. They identified Jagtap and Dore as NCP workers