Kolhapur (Maharashtra) : Veteran Communist leader and leading light of the anti-toll tax movement in Maharashtra, Govind P. Pansare and his wife were shot at near their home in Sagarmala here Monday when they were out for a morning walk, police said.
According to police, two unidentified assailants on a motorbike accosted the couple around 8 a.m. and fired at least four rounds from close range before speeding off.
The 82-year old lawyer and writer, and his wife Uma were rushed by passers-by to Astor Aadhar Hospital where they are undergoing surgery for bullet injuries.
Pansare’s condition has been described as “critical but stable”, while Uma is serious and stable, according to doctors.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the attack on Pansare and his wife as “shocking and condemnable” and said all steps are being taken to nab the culprits.
“I am deeply shocked and I strongly condemn the attack on Pansare and his wife. I have spoken to SP (superintendent of police) of Kolhapur and directed him to speed up the investigations and arrest the assailants,” Fadnavis said.
The chief minister added that 10 police teams are being formed to probe the case and the state police chief would supervise the investigations.
Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde condemned the incident and said that road blocks have been ordered all over Kolhapur and other parts of the state to nab the assailants.
The incident led to spontaneous protests across the state including Kolhapur, Nashik, Aurangabad and Mumbai with people condemning the attacks and demanding justice for the family.
Leaders and activists across the political spectrum expressed outrage over the attacks reminiscent of the early morning killing of anti-superstitions activist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in August 2013. His killers are still absconding.
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar termed the attacks as “heinous and a matter of extreme concern” for the people of Maharashtra.
“Pansare was a man staunch in his beliefs and always fought for his causes, without any personal animosity with anybody. It appears to be a planned attack. I appeal to the state government to take immediate action to nab the assailants,” Pawar told reporters.
Maharashtra Congress president Manikrao Thakre condemned “the dastardly” attacks and expressed suspicion that in recent times, people with different ideologies are being targeted systematically.
Social activist Mukta Dabholkar termed the attacks as “a pre-planned conspiracy and attack on secularism”, while Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and anti-toll activist Raju Shetti, MP, condemned the attacks.