Thane: In a shocking incident, Congress corporator Manoj Mhatre from Bhiwandi was on Tuesday night shot dead by a couple of unidentified persons.

Assailants first fired at the leader of the Congress party in the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation and then attacked him over 10 times with sharp weapons.

As per DCP Bhiwandi Zone-II Manoj Patil, Mhatre was the resident of Kalwa of Bhiwandi taluka. Due to personal enmity, he shifted to Oswal Wadi in the town.

After parking his car in the basement, Mhatre was moving towards his house when he was shot by two men.

After the attack in Bhiwandi, 20 kms from Mumbai, the assailants fled in a four-wheeler without any number plate, said the police.

The 52-year-old was rushed to Jupiter Hospital at Thane where doctors declared him brought dead.

The motive behind the killing is still not known, the police said, adding, earlier too there was an attempt on his life.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot and a manhunt has been launched to nab the killers, police said.

Elections for the next term of the Bhiwandi Nizampur Municipal Corporation are scheduled to take place in May.