A special court in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur city Wednesday has framed charges against 10 persons who were allegedly involved in the murder of Communist Party of India leader Govind Pansare.
Special Anti-Terrorism Squad Judge SS Tambe on Monday framed charges against Sameer Gaikwad, Virendra Sinh Tawde, Amol Kale, Vasudev Suryawanshi, Bharat Kurane, Amit Degvekar, Sharad Kalaskar, Sachin Andure, Amit Baddi and Ganesh Miskin. Two accused persons, Vinay Pawar and Sarang Akolkar, are absconding.
Pansare was killed in an attack by two unidentified gunmen on his way home from a morning walk in Kolhapur on 16 February 2015. He died of bullet wounds four days later.
The charges have been framed under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. Charges under the Arms Act pertaining to illegal possession and use of firearms have also been framed.
Two persons accused of involvement in Pansare’s killing – Kalaskar and Andhure – have also been named in the case involving the killing of human rights activist and rationalist Narendra Dabholkar.
Investigating agencies have said that Dabhokar‘s killing as well as the murders of Pansare and activist MM Kalburgi in 2015 and veteran journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017 are linked and that Hindutva outfits were behind them.
