After Kalburgi’s Murder Another Rationalist Receives Death Threat

KS Bhagwan, a Kannada rationalist, receives death threat. The police are investigating source of the letter.

KS Bhagwan speaking at the Bangalore Literature Festival in April. (Photo: YouTube/BangaloreLitFest)

A week after the murder of noted Kannada progressive thinker and scholar MM Kalburgi, another rationalist free-thinker and writer, KS Bhagwan, has received a letter threatening to kill him.

The source of the letter is being investigated by the police, said BK Singh, Inspector General of Police, Southern Range.

I was not at home when the letter came this afternoon. My family received it. After reading the letter, written in English, the family informed the police... currently, it is with the police.
— KS Bhagwan, Kannada Rationlist

A Bajrang Dal local activist was arrested in Dakshina Kannada district a day after Kalburgi was shot dead for allegedly posting remarks on Twitter threatening Bhagwan for his ‘derogatory’ remarks on the Bhagawad Gita.

Three people we have finished, next is your turn; no amount of police protection will help. Your time is over, count the days.
— Threat Letter

Right-wing activists were agitated after Bhagwan allegedly spoke against the Bhagawad Gita at a programme in Mysuru in February this year.

It shows utter ignorance on the part of those who wrote the letter. They wouldn’t have even read a page of my writing. I write on the basis of my research. If they have objections about it, they can always oppose it in a civilised way. This is not the first time I have received such threats; I’m not afraid.
— KS Bhagwan, Kannada Thinker

After MM Kalburgi’s murder, the state police had increased the security provided to Bhagwan and noted littérateurs, including Jnanpeeth award winner Girish Karnad and SL Byrappa.

Kalburgi (77) was shot dead by two gunmen at his residence in Dharwad in North Karnataka on August 30.

Karnataka government has decided to hand over the Kalburgi murder case to CBI.

(With inputs from PTI)