'Karnataka probe spurred Maha ATS action'

Mumbai: Opposition leader in Maharashtra Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil on Friday met Karnataka deputy chief minister G. Parameshwara in Bengaluru. Mr Vikhe-Patil later said that the Karnataka government is taking action against extremist organisations firmly and that has forced government to act in the state.  

Mr Vikhe-Patil reached Bengaluru to discuss over the investigation in the murders of four intellectuals and rationalists. In his meeting with Karnataka deputy chief minister and home minister Mr Parameshwara, he reportedly discussed action being taken in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Maharashtra has seen the murders of two rationalists, Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, and Karnataka has seen two murders of writer Dr M.M. Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh.

“Karnataka agencies ha-ve done concrete investigation in the Dr Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh cases. Extremist organisations of Maharashtra and Karnataka are being investigated and Karnataka probe teams have solid proof against them. Though Mr Parameshwara has not shared details, I can say that he was positive in taking strong action against these organisations,” said Mr Vikhe-Patil.

He added that steps being taken by the Maharashtra ATS are the result of sharing of information by Karnataka age-ncies.