Campaign to fastrack Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi death probe

A nationwide awareness campaign will be launched to protest against "government apathy" in apprehending the killers of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, besides scholar M M Kalburgi.
The 'Campaign Against Violence, Towards Humanity' by Maharashtra Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) (the Committee for Eradication of Superstition) founded by Dabholkar will be launched in the national capital tomorrow.
"It has been nearly three years since Dabholkar was brutally murdered. Soon after, Pansare was shot and Kalburgi was also killed. Even after so much time the investigation has not reached a logical conclusion," Avinash Patil, Executive President, MANS said here today.
While Dabholkar was murdered in Pune on August 20, 2013, Pansare was shot at on February 16 last year. He died on February 20. Prof Kalburgi was murdered on August 30 last year.

The killings had sparked outrage in the country with several eminent writers and others returning their state awards over "rising intolerance" in the country.
CBI had last month arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member Virendra Singh Tawde in connection with the murder of Dabholkar. The Samiti is linked to Goa-based radical Hindu group 'Sanatan Sanstha', which had also come under the scanner for the murder of Pansare.

"We condemn Sanatan Sanstha and Hindu Janajagaran Samiti, fundamentalist, right wing Hindu organisations who are spreading hatred and are reportedly engaged in terrorist activities like 2009 Goa blast and murders of progressive thinkers," Patil said.

"Both the Centre and state governments are responsible for the apathy in investigation. There are red corner notices against the suspects but investigative agencies have been unable to find them. It shows a lack of political will in the matter," he said.
The organisers said protests have also been planned across various cities in Maharashtra and other states till August 30, which marks the third death anniversary of Dabholkar. A national-level protest will also take place at his birthplace Pune.