Bengaluru: The assassins of Kannada scholar M.M. Kalburgi are reportedly from Karnataka. It is reliably learnt that the killer, who had shot Dr Kalburgi from a close range from a country-made 7.65 mm gun had spoken to his wife in competent Kannada and had asked for “saar” (sir). “He rang the doorbell and when Dr Kalburgi’s wife opened the door he asked her briefly in Kannada if he could meet ‘sir’. His language was flawless,” said an official source.
He added that though there is no strong lead in the investigation, Dr Kalburgi’s killing may have been executed by people who were reportedly “offended” by his writings. “The other two possible reasons behind his assassination – property and his confrontation with a woman officer of Kannada and Culture Department – have been ruled out,” said the officer on condition of anonymity.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the sensational killing of the septuagenarian scholar in Dharwad on August 30, is working closely with the Pune police, who had initially investigated the murder of rationalist and anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, who was shot dead on August 20, 2013 by two motorcycle-borne men on the Omkareshwar bridge near Pune's Shanivar Peth area.
The CID is also taking the help of Kolhapur police on the murder of Communist Party of India leader and rationalist Govindrao Pansare, who was shot by unidentified assailants in February this year, when he and his wife were returning home from their morning walk. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced a cash award of Rs 5 lakh for anyon giving credible information leading to the arrest of Dr Kalburgi’s killers.
Threat letter to free thinker Bhagwan was a hoax: Cops
The threat letter posted to rationalist and free thinker K.S. Bhagwan in Mysuru last week was reportedly a ‘hoax,’ said an officer on condition of anonymity. Though the police have given round-the-clock armed security to Mr Bhagwan, the police in Bengaluru and Mysuru have reportedly ruled the letter, which was posted from Bengaluru, as hoax.
“The letter contradicts the modus operandi of hardliners. The assassination of Dr Kalburgi in Karnataka, Dr Dabholkar and Mr Pansare in Maharashtra seemed to have been executed by the same group. They didn’t give a warning before killing,” said the officer.
