Senior Communist Govind Pansare, shot last week, succumbs to injuries
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Mumbai: Veteran CPI leader Govind Pansare, who was shot at earlier this week, died at a hospital in Mumbai late on Friday night after he was airlifted for treatment to the city in the evening from Kolhapur. He was 82.
Prominent anti-toll protester, Pansare was shot at along with his wife in Kolhapur on February 16 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.
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 on Saturday for the last rites, he added.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited Breach Candy Hospital late tonight and paid his last respects to Pansare.
Among other notable leaders to visit the hospital were NCP's Surpiya Sule and RPI'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 BJP 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.
