The shocking murder of renowned scholar M.M rationalist Kalburgi in Karnataka, which bears striking similarities to those of rationalists Dr. Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare in Maharashtra, has now prompted the State police to probe whether the three murders are part of a larger conspiracy to eliminate rationalists.
Noting the “striking prima facie similarities” in the three cases, a police team from Maharashtra has reached Karnataka to follow the developments in the Kalburgi murder case, said police sources here.
All three were targeted by fringe groups
Kolhapur police officers reached Karnataka on Tuesday to probe the possible links of the Kalburgi murder to the Dabholkar and Pansare killings in Maharashtra.
Sanjay Kumar, Additional DGP (CID) said it is likely that the teams probing the Dabholkar and Pansare murders would share information and sketches of suspects in these cases with their counterparts in Karnataka.
Mr. Pansare, a respected lawyer, CPI leader and noted writer-activist, was gunned down outside his home in Kolhapur in February this year, while his wife Uma was grievously wounded.
In all three cases, the victims, through their writings had roused the ire of fringe right-wing groups and all were killed by motorcycle-borne assailants in the morning. Meanwhile, Hamid Dabholkar, son of Dr. Dabholkar said that all the three murders had taken place in cities on the National Highway 4 and in areas where right-wing groups are in the ascendant.
Kolhapur police officers have gone to Karnataka, said a top official. Sanjay Kumar, Additional DGP (CID). It is likely that the teams probing the Dabholkar and Pansare murders would share information and sketches of suspects in these cases with their counterparts in Karnataka.
