Set up STF to nab killers, say kin

PUNE: A special task force (STF) must be constituted to nab the killers of anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar and communist leader Govind Pansare, demanded family members of Dabholkar and Pansare on Thursday.

The CBI had arrested Dr Virendraa Tawde, an ENT surgeon and a member of Sanatan Sanstha, as the key conspirator in the murder case of Dabholkar, who was shot dead on the bridge near Omkareshwar Temple on August 20, 2013. 

Later, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of Pansare, who was shot dead near his residence in Kolhapur on February 16, 2015, had arrested Tawde and said that he was also the main conspirator in the case. The agencies are looking for Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar, who are said to be the assailants in both cases.

Dr Dabholkar’s son, Hameed, said, “As the present investigating agencies have not able to arrest the two killers, we are demanding that an STF must be set up to arrest Pawar and Akolkar.”

On Thursday, Carles Torner, the Executive Director of the PEN International, a worldwide association of writers, met Pansare’s wife Uma and Dabholkar’s wife Dr Shaila. Noted linguist and scholar Ganesh Devi was also present during the conference at Sadhna Media Centre in Shaniwar Peth. 

Torner said, “The family members of Dabholkar, Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh must get justice.” 

Uma Pansare on the occasion said, “The two persons arrested by the agencies, have been released and it is injustice towards us.”

Shaila Dabholkar added, “It has been five years but the agencies have not been able to arrest the killers. The Constitution has given rights to the citizens and nobody can suppress their thoughts.”