Really sad news.
Narendra Dabholkar: Anti-Superstition Activist Shot Dead | More From India | www.indiatimes.com
His fight against superstition seems to have cost him his life, but Dr Narendra Dabholkar's struggle to eradicate deep rooted superstitions of our society is far from over.
Narendra Dabholkar, leading anti-superstition campaigner, social worker and journalist, was gunned down in Pune by unidentified motorcycle-riding assailants, police said.
The attack took place around 7.30 a.m. near Omkareshwar Temple, when Dabholkar, in his 60s, was on his morning walk.The two gunmen fired indiscriminately at Dabholkar and sped away, leaving him in a pool of blood.The victim was rushed by other co-walkers to Sassoon Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Police Commissioner Gulabrao Pol and other senior officials rushed to the scene of crime.Police claimed to have got some leads on the killers, adding that at least four bullets found their target in the victim's neck and back.
Two gunmen on motorbikes fired at Narendra Dabholkar, a medical doctor who had faced accusations of being anti-religion, as he was taking his morning walk in the western city of Pune, its police chief said.
"He was shot dead this morning, our investigations are on," Pune police commissioner Gulabrao Pol told AFP, adding that no suspects have yet been identified.
Dabholkar, a doctor, was at the forefront of a campaign to persuade the Maharashtra Government to pass an anti-superstition and black magic bill called the anti-JaduTona bill. Right wing Hindu groups, including certain sections of the Warkari Sect and political parties had been opposing to the bill.
A rationalist known for his bold views and sustained campaign against superstitions for over three decades, Dabholkar had rubbed many people the wrong way.In his 60s, he was largely instrumental in pushing the state government to frame an anti-superstition law which is in the final stages of legislative approval.
Hailing from Satara, Dabholkar studied medicine from Miraj Medical College and practised medicine for about a decade, before taking up social work.
In 1989, he founded the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS)-- the Committee for the Eradication of Blind Faith --, along with a few like-minded people and raised cudgels against all types of superstitions, irrational practices, blind faith and beliefs, confronting dubious tantriks and babas who preyed on the gullible masses.
Narendra Dabholkar: Anti-Superstition Activist Shot Dead | More From India | www.indiatimes.com