CPI leader Pansare, wife shot, critically injured

Senior CPI leader Govind Pansare, who was at the forefront of a campaign against road toll tax, and his wife were today shot at and critically wounded by motorcycle-borne assailants, triggering outrage.
"Pansare is critical but stable," Aster Aadhar Hospital's Chief Medical Officer Dr Ulhas Damle told reporters.
Damle said Pansare,78, who is undergoing surgery, received three gunshot injuries in the neck, armpit and on the right leg near the knee.
"The blood vessels providing circulation to the brain are intact. Bleeding from the injury has now been controlled. His heartbeat and blood pressure are stable. The operation is going on and it will take few hours more. At this stage, the condition of Pansare is critical but stable," he said.

Pansare's wife Uma has a fracture on right side of the skull. Her CT scan showed hemorrhage at the place of fracture, but she is now conscious and being treated in the ICU, the CMO said.
The assailants fired at Pansare and his wife this morning outside the Ideal Housing Society here when the couple was returning after their daily morning walk.

The attack comes almost a year-and-half since the murder of noted rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, who was also shot in a similar manner during a morning walk in Pune. The case remains unsolved.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condemned the incident and said ten police teams have been formed to apprehend the culprits.

"This incident is condemnable and shocking. I have sought information. He is critical. Let us pray for his recovery," he told reporters.
Fadnavis said he had directed the Kolhapur Superintendent of Police to arrest those behind the incident urgently.
Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde has been rushed to Kolhapur to take stock of the situation and supervise efforts to track down the assailants.