BANGALORE: Indian scholars on Monday condemned the execution-style killing of a leading scholar who had spoken out against idol worship and angered hardline Hindu groups in the run-up to his death.

M. M. Kalburgi, an academic and writer from southern Karnataka state, was shot in the forehead after opening the door of his home on Sunday morning and later died in hospital, police said.

The motive for the killing is unknown, but Kalburgi, who was 77, had been given police protection in the past after receiving death threats from Hindu hardliners.

“Security cover was withdrawn last year on Kalburgi’s insistence, as he wanted to be accessible by anyone being a public figure and popular in literary and social circles,” Karnataka additional director general of police Alok Mohan said.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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