Famous Kannada writer and former vice-chancellor of Kannada University M M Kalburgi was shot dead in his residence at Dharwad, Karnataka, on Sunday morning by unidentified assailants. The modus operandi was similar to that used by the killers of Dr Narendra Dabh-olkar, who was shot dead on August 20, 2013. On February 16, CPI leader comrade Govind Pansare and his wife were gunned down in Kolhapur; he succumbed to his injuries in Mumbai on February 20, 2015.

M M Kalburgi (above) was shot dead at his residence in Dharwad, Karnataka. Youth Congress members protest his killing in Bangalore. PICS/PTI