Arrests have to be made, slogans won’t do, says Dabholkar’s daughter

Mukta said the state police had initiated investigations into the Dabholkar case and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had taken over but there has been no breakthrough.

Mukta pointed out similarities between the attack on the Pansare couple and the attack on Dabholkar.

[related-post]

“It appears that a series of attacks on progressive leaders has begun,” she said. Despite rigorous investigations for about a year-and-a-half, police agencies have arrested no one other than arms dealers Manish Nagori and Vilas Khandelwal, hailing from Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur, based on ballistic reports of empty shells and cartridges recovered from the murder spot. But no further evidence was obtained. The suspects were released on bail.

When asked whether the state police that failed to crack the Dabholkar murder case would arrest the attackers of Pansare, she said, “The agency does not matter. It is true CBI and state police both have failed in arresting the attackers. We hope Kolhapur police arrest those who fired bullets at the Pansares.”

“It is sad that the assailants are moving free. It is a threat to progressive people. Only condemning the act and shouting slogans won’t help. Arresting the assailants and the masterminds behind the attacks on Dabholkar and Pansare is what is needed,” she said.

Mukta extended support for youths sitting on the hunger strike. “The government should think why these educated youths have to sit on a hunger strike….It is a testing time for us. We shall continue our fight and take the progressive movement forward,” she said.

Rajan Dandekar, Hanumant Pawar, Ashwini Satav Doke and Harshal Lohkare are on an indefinite hunger strike on Omkareshwar bridge, and other activists are supporting them.