Veteran Communist leader Govind Pansare passes away

Veteran Communist Party of India leader Govind Pansare, who was shot at earlier this week, died at a hospital in Mumbai late Friday night after he was airlifted for treatment to the city this evening from Kolhapur. He was 82.

Pansare, a prominent anti-toll protester, was shot at along with his wife in Kolhapur on Monday while they were taking a morning walk.

After undergoing surgery at a hospital in Kolhapur immediately after the shooting, Pansare was flown here this evening in an air ambulance arranged for by the Maharashtra government.

He was admitted to the Breach Candy Hospital, where he succumbed during treatment, an official said.

CPI reacted strongly to its veteran leader's death; with party leader A Abhyankar saying the government should spare no efforts to nab Pansare's killers.

Social activist Baba Adhav said Pansare's killing comes after anti-superstition activist Dr Narendra Dabholkar was killed in Pune one-and-a-half-years back.

On Monday, Pansare, who was at the forefront of a campaign against road toll tax, and his wife Uma were shot at and critically wounded by unknown assailants. The CPI leader had received three gunshot injuries to his neck, armpit and on the right leg near the knee.

Dean of Maharashtra government's JJ Hospital in Mumbai, Dr PP Lahane, told reporters outside Breach Candy Hospital post midnight that Pansare passed away at around 10.45 pm.

“Pansare developed bleeding in the lungs, which led to heart failure and he succumbed at 10.45 pm,” Lahane said.

His body will be flown to Kolhapur at 10.30 am tomorrow for the last rites, he added.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited BreachCandyHospital late tonight and paid his last respects to Pansare.

Among other notable leaders to visit the hospital were Nationalist Congress Party's Surpiya Sule and Republican Party of India's Ramdas Athavale.

Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra has lost a brave and valiant leader. Pansare's contribution and fight for upliftment of the poor and downtrodden sections of society will be remembered forever.”

Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party President Raosaheb Danve said it was shocking to hear of the tragic news of Pansare's passing away. The CPI leader's contribution for the deprived sections of society will be remembered always, Danve said.

“There was positive news earlier that Pansare's condition was improving, but now this tragic news has come which has shocked us,” Danve said.

Leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde, said it was an "extremely sad" development for a progressive state like Maharashtra.

“The government must find the culprits and bring them to justice as soon as possible,” Munde said.