DHARWAD:Who were the bike-borne assailants? Were there two or three? What was their motive for killing rationalist M M Kalburgi?
As Kalburgi’s strong views had earned him many enemies, the police are exploring all angles to find answers.
The police, who suspect the role of fringe elements, are in touch with their Maharashtra counterparts since two thinkers in that state were killed in a similar manner.
Dr Narendra Dabholkar, a rationalist, was shot dead two years ago in Pune, while Govindrao Pansare, an activist, was killed in Kolhapur early this year. The assailants had used .32 pistol in both the cases. Interestingly, Pansare was a close associate of Kalburgi.
Last year, Kalburgi had become the target of some right-wing forces for his alleged remarks on idol worship. They had even burnt his effigy and demanded his arrest. Some miscreants had thrown liqour bottles and stones on his house and had threatened him over the phone.
Police had then deployed armed guards at his residence. But they were recently withdrawn on Kalburgi’s request.
As Kannada scholar Veeranna Rajur puts it, “Prof Kalburgi has paid the price for speaking the truth.”