Four, including BJP corporator, murdered at Pimpri

Pune, Nov 8 (UNI) Ankush Landge, a corporator and President of Pimpri-Chichwad City unit of BJP and three others were brutally murdered in a clash between two political groups at Dhavde Vasti in Pimpri, near here, last night, police today said.

The BJP leader and the others were attacked with swords by the other group, when Landge tried to intervene in a quarrel between two groups. Three others were seriously injured in the clash and have been admitted in the intensive care unit at the government run Sassoon Hospital.

So far, one person has been detained in connection with the murders, official sources said.

At least ten vehicles were burnt down and nearly 22 houses damaged by a rampaging mob following the incident. Tension prevailed in the area and a company of a Rapid Action Force and senior police official are monitoring the situation.

Last night, hundreds of BJP workers gathered at the spot and did not allow anyone to touch the bodies till the culprits were apprehended.

However, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their families and the last rites were performed this afternoon.

Senior BJP leaders Gopinath Munde and Nitin Gadkari, who visited the families this morning, demanded an inquiry into the incident, alleging that Congress' supporters were involved as Landge was growing in popularity in the Pimpri-Chinchwad belt and was to contest the coming elections to local bodies.

Police said cases had been registered under section 302 and 143 of the IPC for murder and rioting respectively. Both the groups filed separate complaints with the police. The name of the person detained was given as Popat Landge.

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