Mumbai: A 45-year-old Congress worker was allegedly murdered at Asalfa in Ghatkopar on Monday morning. While the Congress has called it a political murder and an attack on democracy, the Saki Naka police believe the victim was killed in a road rage incident.

Manoj Dubey used to stay with his family in Shivaji Nagar of Asalfa. Dubey, the police said, was found in a severely injured condition near Asalfa Metro station around 1.30 a.m., and was rushed to Rajawadi Hospital, where he died during treatment. After Dubey was identified based on some documents on his person, the police contacted his family.

“Dubey’s family told us that he had got into an argument on Facebook after he put up a status saying the next government would be formed by the Congress, which attracted the ire of some local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers. On Sunday evening, Dubey and a BJP functionary came to the police station and Dubey registered a non-cognisable complaint against the people threatening him. To the best of our knowledge, the matter ended there,” an officer at Saki Naka police station said.

Inquiries established that Dubey left his residence after midnight on Sunday to meet someone, and got involved in an accident. “We have found eyewitnesses who saw Dubey drive on the wrong side of the road and hit another car, after which an argument ensued between Dubey and the car owner. Dubey’s murder seems to have occurred during this argument, although we are verifying whether the people threatening him could be behind it,” the officer said.

Meanwhile, calling it a murder of democracy, Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said the BJP has brought in a new tactic of eliminating political rivals by murdering them. “This is not only the murder of a Congress worker but that of democracy. Our nation follows the tradition of discussion over differing views. Goons of the BJP murdered Dubey over his Facebook post,” Mr. Chavan said.

Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam slammed the BJP and demanded action against its party workers involved in the crime. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said the murder of the Congress activist merely over a Facebook post is absolutely shameful. “Is this State run by the law or goons?” he asked.

BJP denies allegation

Reacting to the allegation, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said the government is doing its duty and an FIR has been filed against the accused. “None of them are BJP office-bearers. Above all, the police are investigating. Merely an allegation by the Congress does not prove anything. The law will take its own course,” Mr. Shelar said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone X) N.D. Reddy said, “An FIR of murder against unknown persons under the IPC has been registered, and several suspects are being questioned.”