File photo of MM Kalaburgi
Former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University MM Kalburgi, 77, was shot dead at his Kalyanagar residence this morning by unidentified gunmen, police said.
Like noted author Professor UR Ananthamurthy, Dr Kalburgi was in the radar of right wing groups for his writings and speeches, which were seen as anti-Hindu. Locals said he had received many threats to his life, but he had never taken them seriously.
"Dr Kalburgi was shot dead at his Kalyangar residence in Dharwad around 8.40 am," Dharwad Police Commissioner Ravindra Prasad said.
Describing the event, Mr Prasad said, "They rang the bell. Just when the Professor opened the door, he was shot in the forehead and chest." The two assailants, he said, had apparently come on a bike.
Dr Kalburgi was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead, he said.
Asked how many bullets he sustained and who was behind in the attack, Mr Prasad said police were investigating the case.
Dr Kalburgi was a Sahitya Academy award winning writer, scholar, academician and researcher who had landed in controversy on several occasions for his remarks on religious and social issues.
He was the fourth such man to be shot dead over the over the last couple of years.
In August 2013, anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead in Pune while he was out for a morning walk.
In February this year, social activist and veteran CPI leader Govind Pansare -- who was holding agitations against toll tax among other issues -- was shot dead in similar circumstances in Kolhapur. Neither murder has been solved.
"This is a very unfortunate incident. We hope this doesn't develop into a part of Kannada culture. Everyone has the right to express his opinion... If this grows in Karnataka, we are in trouble," said actor and director Girish Karnad.