Month after Pansare shooting, killers still at large

Exactly a month after Communist leader and anti-toll tax activist Govind Pansare and his wife Uma were shot at by unidentified assailants, Maharashtra Police continue to grope in the dark for the elusive shooters.

At least two assailants shot at Pansare and Uma from close quarters, before speeding off on a motorcycle, near their home as the couple was returning from their morning walk.

While Pansare, 82, succumbed to his injuries in a Mumbai hospital on February 21, Uma, 78, sustained head injuries and was hospitalised for a fortnight. At present, she is bed-ridden at home.

On Monday, several local groups and NGOs remembered the lawyer, writer and anti-toll tax activist by holding a silent demonstration outside his home in the city.

Soon after she returned home, Uma gave her statement to police on the incident and reportedly provided a description of the attackers.

Maharashtra Police have formed two dozen teams to probe Pansare's killing with help from the ATS and CID besides announcing rewards ranging from Rs.500,000-Rs.25,00,000 by various departments.

Investigators have travelled to several parts of the state but have so far drawn a blank.

The killing was compared to the mystery murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune in August, 2013. Dabholkar's killers are also still at large.