The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on February 21

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its deep grief at the death of Comrade Govind Pansare, CPI leader and prominent Marxist intellectual. Com Pansare was shot in a dastardly manner along with his wife Uma, by two assassins on February 16 in Kolhapur.

The killing of Com Pansare followed the same modus operandi as that of Dr Narendra Dabholkar in August 2013 in Pune. Extremist communal elements are suspected to be behind both these murders.

So far no one has been arrested for either of these killings. The CPI(M) demands that the Maharashtra government and police take speedy and effective action to apprehend the culprits and those behind this heinous plot.

The CPI(M) conveys its heartfelt condolences to Com Uma, the wife of Com Pansare and all his family members.