New Delhi:
The police have released two sketches of the alleged killers of well-known scholar Dr MM Kalburgi, former Vice-Chancellor of Hampi University, who was shot dead at his home in Dharwad three days ago.
The police are yet to zero in on any suspect in the case, with most officers apparently being busy with other duties. Sources said senior officers supervising the investigation were deputed to manage farmers' protests in two towns.
The state government has said the case will be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigations.
The 77-year-old Sahitya Academy award winning writer and academician had been on the radar of right wing groups for his writings and speeches, which they saw as anti-Hindu.
Locals said he had received death threats several times in his life, but had seldom taken them seriously. But last year, he was given police protection after receiving threats from unknown people.
The professor had provoked some groups by speaking in support of noted author UR Ananthamurthy when he shared that as a child, he had urinated on stone figurines.
After three months, the security cover was removed on his request, his family has said. The family has also said he had been murdered for his beliefs.
Dr Kalburgi's murder had followed the pattern of the murder of two other noted rationalists and activists -- Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. Both had been shot while they were out for a morning walk -- Mr Pansare on Kolhapur in February and Mr Dabholkar in Pune in August 2013.
Dr Kalburgi was shot dead by an unidentified person, who came to his house in the morning, rang the doorbell, and asked for "Sir".
FILE photo: Noted scholar MM Kalburgi who was shot dead at his home in Karnataka