Incident comes after 15 days when Pansare was threatened for speaking against the glorification of Nathuram Godse.
Veteran communist leader Govind Pansare and his wife Uma Pansare were shot at in Sagarmala, Kolhapur on Monday. According to reports, five have been detained and Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the case.
Two unidentified assailants on a bike shot four rounds of fire from a close range at around 8.00 am at Pansare and his wife. They both were out on a morning walk near their home.
Sources have said that Pansare was hit by two bullets, one near his neck and one in chest, while one bullet hit his wife. They both are being treated for their injuries at Astor Aadhar hospital. Pansare has suffered heavy loss of blood and is in a serious condition and Mrs Pansare is out of danger, say sources .
At least 20 teams have been deployed and have been conducting investigation in Satara and Sangli, say reports. Police interrogating history sheeters as part of the investigation, reports said.
82- year old Pansare, a lawyer and writer, was leading a campaign against the collection of toll in Maharashtra. Fifteen days ago he was threatened and abused for speaking against the glorification of Nathuram Godse at a gathering.
This incident comes after the assassination of Dr Narendra Dabholkar and RTI activist Satish Shetty.
"We call upon all District Authorities to take urgent steps to nab the shooters. This is another case similar to Late Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder . We protest and appeal to CM MAharashtra To act Quickly, said Dr Kango CPI secretary in a statement.
Politicians across parties have condemned the incident.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis tweeted that he was deeply shocked about the 'heinous' attack.
He added that he has directed the SP to speed up the investigation and arrest the assailants.He said 10 teams would be formed for the investigation which will be supervised by the DG.
He said that he prayed for Pansare and his wife's speedy recovery.
Condemning the incident, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said, "This attack is a matter of concern for a progressive state like Maharashtra."
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray also spoke to the Chief Minister and sought urgent steps to arrest the perpetrators.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil sought dismissal of state police chief Sanjeev Dayal, alleging he was not competent enough to tackle the law and order situation.
Vikhe Patil also demanded a "full-time" Home Minister in the state. The Home portfolio is held by Chief Minister Fadnavis.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said Pansare had always fought against the capitalist and communal forces and those could be behind the murderous attack on the veteran leader.
"Narendra Dabholkar was fighting forces of superstition and communalism and he was also gunned down," Chavan said, adding, "The government should not only apprehend people who pulled the trigger but also the forces behind them."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}