Bajrang Dal leader booked for tweeting threat to another rationalist after Kalburgi murder

A case has been filed against a Bajrang Dal leader in Karnataka for threatening writer KS Bhagwan and gloating over the death of rationalist MM Kalburgi. Bajrang Dal co-convener in Bantwal taluka of Dakshina Kannada district, Bhuvith Shetty, on Sunday morning tweeted, "Then it was UR Anantamoorty and now it is MM Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dogs death. And dear K S Bhagwan you are next."

Taking a suo motu notice, the Bantwal police filed a case for provocation to cause riot and criminal intimidation against Shetty, who, meanwhile, deleted the tweet as well as his Twitter handle, @GarudaPurana. He is also reported to have apologised for issuing the threat.

Renowned Kannada scholar and former Hampi University Vice-Chancellor MM Kalburgi was shot dead on Sunday by unidentified assailants in Karnataka's Dharwad district, sparking protests across the state. A close associate of Kannada's legendary critic late UR Ananthamurthy, Kalburgi was critical of idol worship and mocked at rituals and blind beliefs.

Kalburgi, 77, was shot in the forehead from close range when he opened the main door of his house in Kalyan Nagar suburb, about 430 km north of Bengaluru. The bleeding Kalburgi was rushed to the civil hospital where doctors declared him dead.

According to a witness, two people came to Kalburgi's house on a motorbike around 9 am on Sunday and sped away after committing the crime. The heinous incident sent shock waves across the state, with writers, critics and activists staging protests against the sensational turn of events in the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad.

As news spread about the daring attack, hundreds of people including students rushed to the Karnataka University campus where his body was brought for the public to pay their last respects. Though Kalburgi was controversial for his independent views on social and religious matters, he was a noted epigraphist and a well-known writer of old Kannada literature, especially Vachana literature.

He was born in Yaragal village in Vijayapura district of north Karnataka in 1938. Kalburgi was a recipient of many national and state awards, including the Sahitya Akademi award, Nrupatunga award and Pampa award.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who expressed shock over Kalburgi's death, air-dashed to Dharward from Bengaluru in a chopper and paid last respects to the departed writer. Terming Kalburgi's death a terrible loss to the literary world, noted Kannada writers Barguru Ramachandrappa, K Marulasiddappa and Girish Karnad condemned the gruesome attack and mourned the scholar's death.