Dr Narendra Dabholkar murder: Month on, cops grope in the dark

Even a month after the sensational murder of rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the Pune police have not made any headway in the case. However, the investigators claim that they have gathered some crucial evidence and their probe is on the right track.

Dabholkar was shot dead by two unidentified men from a close range around 7.20am on August 20 in Pune. The assailants then escaped taking the narrow lanes of Shaniwar Peth. 

Assistant commissioner of police (crime) Rajendra Bhamare, who is leading the investigating teams, said that they have interrogated more than 2,000 people so far.

Speaking about the CCTV footage in which images of the assailants were captured, Bhamare said that it has been sent to London for examination. However, they have not received any reply yet. But footages from all other CCTVs in the city are being examined by the investigating teams.  

“We have been interrogating members of some right-wing organisations and not a single possibility has been ruled out,” he said. 

The sketches of both the suspects have been circulated all over the state.

“We have received several calls from people and their inputs are being verified.
Six more eyewitnesses have come forward and given some crucial leads. During the Ganesh festival, the investigating teams were excluded from the bandobast duties to work on them incessantly,” he added.   

Among the 20 teams formed, some have been sent to other states and the angle of contract killing is also being looked into, the officer informed.

Crime file
Anti-superstition crusader Narendra Dabholkar, who headed the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti, was shot dead by two unidentified men from a close range around 7.20am on August 20 in Pune.

The assailants then escaped taking the narrow lanes of Shaniwar Peth.