The deceased has been identified as Manoj Dubey, General Secretary of Mumbai Youth Congress.
In what appears to be a political vendetta, a Congress party worker and close aide of Congress leader Mohammad Arif Naseem Khan was allegedly stabbed to death in Ghatkopar in the wee hours of Monday at the Asalpha area of Saki Naka. The police have detained two people and are questioning them over the incident.
The deceased has been identified as Manoj Dubey, General Secretary of Mumbai Youth Congress.
According to Manoj Dubey, brother-in-law of the deceased, the incident took place around 1:30 am on Monday.
"Five to six hours before the incident I had met Dubey and he told me that some people are after him. He had also named four individuals linked to the BJP and the Bajrang Dal. Dubey had published a post on Facebook stating that the Congress part will come to power in 2019 and Arif Naseem Khan will become an MLA. BJP and Bajrang Dal supporters had made negative comments on that post," the victim's brother-in-law said.
He added, later someone who knew Dubey and the rivals then mediated and sorted out the issue. "Dubey was on his way home on Sunday night when five to six persons stopped his vehicle and two of them attacked him with a chopper and swords. Dubey owned a cables and internet business and his office was at Shivaji Nagar at Asalpha. This is entirely a political vendetta killing," said Manoj Dubey.
One person known to Dubey saw the incident and informed Dubey's family. "When Dubey's family reached the spot, Dubey named two of his attackers. Dubey was immediately rushed to Rajawadi hospital where he was declared dead," said Manoj Dubey.
Sources said two persons - Jitendra Mishra and Umesh Singh have emerged as prime suspects in the case.
"We have registered a case of murder and are making inquiries with some persons. Nothing can be revealed about the case at this moment," said joint commissioner of police, law and order, Deven Bharti.
Later on Monday a delegation of political workers and locals had visited Saki Naka police station demanding stern action in the matter.
The incident attracted lots of political reactions.
Congress MLA and ex-minister Mohammed Arif (Naseem) Khan said that he had arranged a party on the occasion of his birthday in his constituency. "Over 7000 people attended this party and Manoj Dubey was one of them.
After attending birthday party, Manoj posted the birthday pictures on his Facebook account saying "by looking overwhelming response to Naseem Khan ji's birthday, there is no doubt that in 2019, the Congress party is going to come back in power." Responding to this post, a BJP youth leader asked Dubey what work Mr Naseem Khan has done in last 20 years," Naseem Khan said.
Dubey again responded with the list of 15 major work of his local MLA and asked the BJP leader, what work BJP MP Poonam Mahajan had done in the said area. "By seeing this post, BJP workers got angry and called Dubey and abused him and later killed him," Naseem Khan told DNA. "We had demanded high level inquiry in this political killing," Naseem Khan said.
Ashok Chavan, president of Maharashtra Congress alleged that the BJP workers murdered Congress party worker Manoj Dubey on his Facebook post criticising the BJP. "It is nothing but the murder of democracy," Chavan said adding that the high level probe should be set up immediately and the conspirators should be punished.
"We live in democratic country and should believe in different ideology. However, BJP is here to kill any one who opposes their ideology. They are also inducting goons in large number in their party and using them to silence their party critics. We condemn this heinous act in strongest word," Chavan said.
Opposition Leader and Congress MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil also condemned this act. He said that the law and order in Maharashtra in shamble. "The goons are overtaken over state. Now, it is question whether the BJP is ruling or the goons in state. We need strong actions against the conspirators," Vikhe Patil said.
When contacted, there was no response from BJP and Bajrang Dal.
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