Anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar shot dead in Pune

Mangalore Today/NDTV

Pune, Aug 20: Renowned anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar, who was pushing for law against superstition and black magic, was shot dead this morning in Pune, Maharashtra.

 

Mr Dabholkar was on a morning walk when he was shot near the Omkareshwar Bridge in the city by gunmen on a motorcycle. He died in the Sassoon hospital.

Announcing Rs. 10 lakh for any information on the murder, the Maharashtra government called it a planned killing and slammed the police for failing to protect the senior activist.

"The incident is a blot on the state police and the government," said Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

"The investigation has been handed over to the Pune crime branch," said Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil. "It is serious and I appeal to the people to keep calm."

The senior rationalist, known for his campaigns against superstition, Mr Dabholkar had for many years pushed for an anti-superstition Bill in the state assembly. He had also authored several books and was the editor of the "Sadhana" magazine devoted to progressive thought.

 

Narendra Nayak, National President of Federation of Indian Rationalists Associations 


"The Federation of Indian Ratioanlist Associations strongly condemns the assassination of Dr.Narendra Dhabolkar the President of the Maharashtra Andha Shraddha Nirmulan Samiti at Pune by the religious reactionaries. We hereby state that such will not hold us back from fighting the superstitions and social evils in our society. We herein bid respectful homage to our colleague who had devoted his whole life to fighting these social evils and assure that the best tribute to him will be working for the ideals which he stood for".