<div>In an incident that shocked the State, two unidentified persons shot dead litterateur and advocate of rationalism Professor M M Kalburgi (77) at his home here on Sunday.<br /><br />According to family members, Prof Kalburgi was speaking over his cellphone at his residence “Soujanya” at Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad around 8:30 am. <br /><br />The killer is said to have come in the guise of a student and called out for Kalburgi. <br />There was a knock on the door, and when he opened it, he was shot on his forehead at point-blank range.<br /><br />“We heard two gunshots and rushed to the verandah. My father was lying in a pool of blood. Neighbours rushed to our house and rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” said Prof Kalburgi’s daughter Roopadarshi. <br /><br />There was no lead on the assailants as only Prof Kalburgi had seen them.<br />Roopadarshi, Prof Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi and his grandson were in the house when the incident took place. <br /><br />The neighbours first rushed Kalburgi to a private nursing home and from there to the district civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A team of doctors headed by Dr Gajanan Naik conducted the post-mortem. <br /><br />Of the two bullets fired at his forehead, one was still inside while the other had exited from the back of the head.<br /><br />As news of the tragedy spread, a large number of Prof Kalburgi’s friends, colleagues, admirers and members of various organisations rushed to the district civil hospital. <br />Interestingly, Prof Kalburgi was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare of Kolhapur, who was killed in a similar manner. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the police suspect the role of fringe elements in the murder. An outspoken scholar, Prof Kalburgi was in the middle of a controversy due to his remarks about idol worship. <br /><br /><br />Right-wing outfits like the VHP and Bajrang Dal had considered his views “derogatory”and “blasphemous”. <br /><br />He had also received threat calls after speaking his views during a seminar related to atheism about one and half years ago. Police had given him security after stones were thrown on his house.<br /><br />On Sunday, Kalburgi’s mortal remains were kept at KCD College grounds for the public to pay last respects. Family sources said the final rites will be performed at Karnatak University ground at 1 pm on Monday.<br /><br />IGP (Northern Range) Umeshkumar, who came to the spot, said all the CCTV footage in the area would be screened for any leads. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Ravindra Prasad said some unidentified person had fired at Kalburgi. The investigation into the case has already begun. A special team comprising five inspectors and headed by ACP has been formed, he said.<br /><br />Police sources said the CCTV camera at a bank in Kalyan Nagar has recorded two youth aged between 24 and 28 years, wearing black attire and riding a motorcycle, moving in the area in a suspicious manner. But it would be premature to say anything at this juncture, they added. Dharwad Vidyagiri police have registered a case and are investigating. DCP (Law and Order) Jinendra Khanagavi and DCP (Crime and Traffic) A S Ghori visited the spot and were supervising the investigation.<br /><br /><br />Star in literary world<br /><br />Prof M M Kalburgi was an erudite scholar, renowned researcher and an authority over Vachana literature <br /><br />An expert on scripture, Halegannada (old Kannada), grammar, literature, culture and folk arts among others <br /><br /> He was chief editor of Samagra Vachana Samputa published by the State government<br /><br />Recipient of prestigious awards like Pampa award, Vardhamana award, Karnataka and Central Sahitya Akademi award and Rajyotsava award <br /><br />Served as a member of Karnatak University senate, syndicate and academic council. He was appointed vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University<br /><br /><br />Possible motive<br /><br />Kalburgi was known for his outspoken attitude, which stoked controversy several times <br />n His remarks about idol worship had angered the right-wing outfits<br /><br />The manner in which Kalburgi was murdered is similar to the murder of rationalist leader Govind Pansare of Kolhapur</div>
<div>In an incident that shocked the State, two unidentified persons shot dead litterateur and advocate of rationalism Professor M M Kalburgi (77) at his home here on Sunday.<br /><br />According to family members, Prof Kalburgi was speaking over his cellphone at his residence “Soujanya” at Kalyan Nagar in Dharwad around 8:30 am. <br /><br />The killer is said to have come in the guise of a student and called out for Kalburgi. <br />There was a knock on the door, and when he opened it, he was shot on his forehead at point-blank range.<br /><br />“We heard two gunshots and rushed to the verandah. My father was lying in a pool of blood. Neighbours rushed to our house and rushed him to hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” said Prof Kalburgi’s daughter Roopadarshi. <br /><br />There was no lead on the assailants as only Prof Kalburgi had seen them.<br />Roopadarshi, Prof Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi and his grandson were in the house when the incident took place. <br /><br />The neighbours first rushed Kalburgi to a private nursing home and from there to the district civil hospital, where he was declared brought dead. A team of doctors headed by Dr Gajanan Naik conducted the post-mortem. <br /><br />Of the two bullets fired at his forehead, one was still inside while the other had exited from the back of the head.<br /><br />As news of the tragedy spread, a large number of Prof Kalburgi’s friends, colleagues, admirers and members of various organisations rushed to the district civil hospital. <br />Interestingly, Prof Kalburgi was an associate of rationalist Govind Pansare of Kolhapur, who was killed in a similar manner. <br /><br />Meanwhile, the police suspect the role of fringe elements in the murder. An outspoken scholar, Prof Kalburgi was in the middle of a controversy due to his remarks about idol worship. <br /><br /><br />Right-wing outfits like the VHP and Bajrang Dal had considered his views “derogatory”and “blasphemous”. <br /><br />He had also received threat calls after speaking his views during a seminar related to atheism about one and half years ago. Police had given him security after stones were thrown on his house.<br /><br />On Sunday, Kalburgi’s mortal remains were kept at KCD College grounds for the public to pay last respects. Family sources said the final rites will be performed at Karnatak University ground at 1 pm on Monday.<br /><br />IGP (Northern Range) Umeshkumar, who came to the spot, said all the CCTV footage in the area would be screened for any leads. Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner Ravindra Prasad said some unidentified person had fired at Kalburgi. The investigation into the case has already begun. A special team comprising five inspectors and headed by ACP has been formed, he said.<br /><br />Police sources said the CCTV camera at a bank in Kalyan Nagar has recorded two youth aged between 24 and 28 years, wearing black attire and riding a motorcycle, moving in the area in a suspicious manner. But it would be premature to say anything at this juncture, they added. Dharwad Vidyagiri police have registered a case and are investigating. DCP (Law and Order) Jinendra Khanagavi and DCP (Crime and Traffic) A S Ghori visited the spot and were supervising the investigation.<br /><br /><br />Star in literary world<br /><br />Prof M M Kalburgi was an erudite scholar, renowned researcher and an authority over Vachana literature <br /><br />An expert on scripture, Halegannada (old Kannada), grammar, literature, culture and folk arts among others <br /><br /> He was chief editor of Samagra Vachana Samputa published by the State government<br /><br />Recipient of prestigious awards like Pampa award, Vardhamana award, Karnataka and Central Sahitya Akademi award and Rajyotsava award <br /><br />Served as a member of Karnatak University senate, syndicate and academic council. He was appointed vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University<br /><br /><br />Possible motive<br /><br />Kalburgi was known for his outspoken attitude, which stoked controversy several times <br />n His remarks about idol worship had angered the right-wing outfits<br /><br />The manner in which Kalburgi was murdered is similar to the murder of rationalist leader Govind Pansare of Kolhapur</div>
