Pansare murder: CPI blocks Fadnavis’ convoy

The party accused the BJP government of deliberately dragging its feet over the probe into the 81-year-old Communist leader’s brutal killing.

With the Maharashtra police failing to make any headway in the murder probe of Communist leader Govind Pansare despite assurances by the Devendra Fadnavis –led Bharatiya Janata Party government, CPI workers on Saturday blocked the Chief Minister’s convoy as he arrived for the two-day executive meet of the State BJP unit in Kolhapur.

The CPI’s action prompted police intervention with security personnel dragging away agitating CPI workers who held up Mr. Fadnavis’ convoy. 

Workers raised slogans accusing the BJP government of deliberately dragging its feet over the investigation into the

>81-year-old Communist leader’s brutal killing on February 16 this year.

The CPI members alleged that political will was utterly lacking in the investigation and accused the Maharashtra government of stymieing the probe by transferring a couple of police officials who were closely involved in the case right from the start.

“Three months have gone by since Comrade Pansare and his wife, Uma were shot outside their home in Kolhapur, but Chief Minister Fadnavis has not held a single review meeting of the progress made in the investigation into the murder,” said activist Satishchandra Kamble.

Last month, the State government announced the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the killing following petitions from Mr. Pansare’s kin.