Two killed in Mumbai in an attempt on life of Thane Shiv Sena leader

Two persons were killed during an attempt on the life of a local Shiv Sena leader at Ambernath town here tonight, police said.

Four unidentified persons, armed with sten-guns, entered Shiv Sena's office in Ambernath and opened fire at the party's local unit chief Arvind Walekar injuring him, they said.

Walekar's bodyguards quickly surrounded him and one of them was fatally hit by a bullet, police said.

The bodyguards too fired killing one of the assailants, they said.

The two deceased are yet to be identified.

Walekar has been admitted to a local hospital, police said.

It is suspected that the firing is a result of previous enmity, they said, adding police have launched a manhunt for the attackers.

Walekar, a former president of the Ambernath Municipal Council, was named as an accused in a criminal case but was subsequently acquitted by the Sessions Court.

Security has been stepped up at Ambernath, located on the outskirts of Mumbai, following the incident, police said.