Anti-road toll tax campaigner Govind Pansare & wife shot in Kolhapur, CM Fadanvis orders probe

MUMBAI: Campaigner against road-toll tax and senior communist leader Govind Pansare and his wife Uma were shot at by unidentified gunmen in Kolhapur city of western Maharashtra on Monday morning. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that an inquiry at the highest level would be undertaken into this attack. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar has said that this attack raises concern about the law and order situation in the state and the government must come out with a concrete plan to prevent such attacks in the future.

Pansare was on his morning walk with his wife in the morning when two gunmen came riding on a motorcycle and shot at them. Both collapsed and were taken to a nearby private hospital where their condition is described by doctors to be critical. This is third such incident in Maharashtra after RTI activist Satish Shetty and activist Narendra Dabholkar were shot dead by gunmen in Pune. NCP Chief Sharad Pawar said "I am shocked by this incident and really concerned about rising incidents of violence in Maharashtra. The state government must come forward to ensure that intellectuals and activists are protected".

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said "We have taken this attack very seriously and ordered investigation at the highest level. A team of top investigators will go to Kolhapur and find out details. We will not spare the killers. I have ordered top police officials of the state police to oversee the investigation". Doctors treating Pansare said that his condition was critical and he may be moved to a larger hospital by afternoon.