No leads in Gauri Lankesh's murder, anger simmers

BENGALURU: The special investigation team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the assassination of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh is yet to achieve any major breakthrough in the case. While activists are irked by the delay in bringing the culprits to book, sources in SIT said they are inching closer towards solving the case.

On Tuesday, several activists took out a protest rally from Maurya Circle to the Chief Minister’s residence condemning the delay in the investigation.The march was taken out by Gauri Hatye Virodhi Vedike, on the 90th day of her death — she was shot dead on September 5. The protesters, who wanted to enter the Chief Minister’s residence to press for their demands, were detained by police.Prior to the march, writer Chandrashekar Patil criticised the delay by state government in nabbing the killers.

“Though the case has been handed over to a special investigation team, there have been no visible results. The forces behind the murder should be exposed,” he said. The murder was condemned at the international level. Since there has been no progress in the case, the demand is to expedite the investigation process, he added.

Speaking to Express, a SIT official who did not want to be named, said the team is inching closer to nabbing the culprits. “We have questioned many suspects in connection with the case. But nothing has been finalised,” the official added.  

It may be recalled that Gauri Lankesh was shot dead in front of her Rajarajeshwari Nagar residence and police suspected the involvement of three people. The government formed a special investigation team on September 7 to crack the case and had said the culprits will be nabbed soon. Considering the modus operandi in the assassination, it was suspected that the murder was similar to the killings of Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar in Maharastra and M M Kalburgi in the state.

On September 8, the government had announced a `10 lakh reward for clues that will help the team nab the killers. On October 14, sketches of the accused were released by SIT.Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, on October 24, had said that the strength of SIT was increased to 121 from 64 to speed up the investigation.

Gauri murder: SIT to question notorious arms supplier
Bengaluru: A notorious dealer of arms and ammunition was arrested by personnel of the Central Crime Branch here on Monday. Tahir Hussain, alias Anoop Gowda, was arrested, and later taken into custody by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), formed to investigate the murder of Gauri Lankesh. Deputy Commissioner of Police M N Anucheth, one of the investigating officers of the SIT, said Hussain will be questioned. Hussain, is a native of Maharashtra and has been charged with illegally supplying arms. He is also believed to have numerous links with other such suppliers. Police said it was Hussain who is believed to have  supplied arms for the murder of history-sheeter Basappa Harijan in 2013.