28 October,2026 10:11 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/Screengrab
Hundreds of supporters of slain Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Pradeep Purnekar blocked Thane's busy Ghodbunder Road and burnt tyres during an overnight protest, triggering massive traffic congestion and leaving commuters stranded for hours. Several people were reportedly forced to walk kilometres to reach their homes as vehicles remained stuck on the arterial route.
Videos showing the agitation and long queues of vehicles circulated widely on social media. Some users claimed the blockade continued for six to seven hours. Traffic movement returned to normal by Wednesday morning, police said.
Purnekar's son, Ram Purnekar, has demanded the arrest of former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde and her husband, Rajendra Shinde, in connection with his father's murder on September 29.
The agitation followed Ram Purnekar's detention by police on Tuesday afternoon while he was attempting to march towards the residence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Thane. His detention triggered a protest outside Naupada police station, where leaders from opposition parties joined supporters to raise the issue.
Later, hundreds of protesters blocked Ghodbunder Road at locations falling under the Kapurbawdi, Chitalsar and Kasarvadawali police station areas. Protesters also set tyres on fire at several spots, disrupting traffic along the busy road.
The blockade caused major inconvenience to commuters travelling between Thane and Mumbai. A commuter stuck in the congestion posted on Instagram around 2.30 am on Wednesday, asking when the "bandh" would end.
"Stuck in traffic for over 2 hours... I'm just a common man who wakes up at 6 am, travels all the way to Goregaon (in Mumbai) for work, and now can't even get back home," he wrote.
Another traveller returning from Mumbai airport shared a video on Facebook late Tuesday night showing vehicles at a standstill in both directions. He claimed some people had to walk four to five kilometres to reach home.
Other social media posts showed protesters burning tyres on and beneath the Manpada bridge, bringing vehicular movement to a halt. Users also highlighted existing traffic problems on Ghodbunder Road, including heavy vehicle movement, narrow stretches and inadequate traffic management, saying the blockade had further worsened the situation.
An official from the Thane police control room said traffic returned to normal at around 4 am on Wednesday. Police were initiating the process of registering cases against those involved in the agitation, the official said.
The blockade also highlighted the vulnerability of Ghodbunder Road, a crucial route connecting several parts of Thane with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The disruption affected commuters travelling for work and those returning from the airport late at night.
Pradeep Purnekar, the Shiv Sena (UBT) division chief for the Manpada area, was attacked and killed in his office on September 29 by unidentified assailants. Police have arrested five suspects in the case, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) is investigating the murder.
Police have cited an old political dispute and rivalry linked to the upcoming Thane civic elections as a possible motive for the attack. The allegations against Meenakshi Shinde and her husband, Rajendra Shinde, have not been established in court.
Earlier on Tuesday, police intercepted Ram Purnekar in the Wagle Estate area as he attempted to march towards Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence to stage a protest. Videos showed him pleading with officers before he was taken to Naupada police station.
"I have lost my father, sir," he said.
His detention prompted leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT), the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and the Congress to gather at the police station. They demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, alleging a rise in crime in Thane.
Former Thane mayor Meenakshi Shinde appeared before the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) office for questioning on Tuesday in connection with the murder case.
"I am cooperating fully with the police," she told reporters.
The Purnekar family has alleged that investigators are facing political pressure and has demanded the arrest of those they accuse of orchestrating the killing. The investigation remains ongoing.
(With inputs from PTI)
