Is Margao blast linked to Kalburgi's killing?

BENGALURU: Does the 2009 Margao blast in Goa hold the key to the assassination of Prof M.M. Kalburgi? While sources in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is investigating the high profile murder remain tightlipped, it is reliably learnt that CID along with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the assassination of well known rationalist in Maharashtra - Narenandra Dabholkar in Pune in August 2103, Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS), which is investigating the murder of Left leader Govind Pansare in February 2015 in Kolhapur and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) are jointly probing the three assassinations, which have uncanny similarities in their targets, operation and the modus operandi and have become a huge challenge for the investigating agencies. The ballistic report in the cases reportedly revealed the use of similar firearms in the three murders.

“If the agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is investigating the Goa blast case are able to lay their hands on the two alleged absconding accused in the 2009 case – Rudra Patil and Sarang Akolkar - they may be able to crack the three murder mysteries. There are plenty of leads emerging, but none of them leads to any conclusive evidence. Prof. Kalburgi’s case has become the biggest challenge for the CID even after 10 months of rigorous investigation and collection of evidence,” the officer added.

The probe in Prof Kalburgi’s assassination is being supervised by the Director General of Police H.C. Kishore Chandra and Additional Director General of Police Pratap Reddy.