SIT speaks to Kalburgi's relatives, neighbours

BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of rationalist MM Kalburgi visited his residence in Dharwad recently and took statements from his family members and neighbours.
The SIT had earlier arrested three men in connection with Kalburgi's killing. According to sources, more arrests are likely by month-end or April first week.

Another team of SIT sleuths questioned Amit Kale, Amit Baddi, Ganesh Miskin and Suryavanshi alias Mechanic in connection with the case. All the four were earlier arrested by SIT in connection with the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh.

Initially, each accused was questioned separately, sources said. "Later, we brought the four together and made them read out their statements. This is to prevent them from denying their statements later and also to pick holes, if any, in their claims," an officer said.

Two men had knocked on the door of Kalburgi's house on the morning of August 30, 2015. Kalburgi's wife Umadevi opened the door and went inside after one of the men asked for the professor. When Kalburgi came, one of them shot two rounds from a revolver from point-blank range.

'Kale plotted, supervised killing'

Sources sa id there are many similarities in Kalburgi and Gauri's murder. "In both cases, bike-borne men carried out the assassination. In Gauri case, the pillion-rider, Parashuram Waghmore, walked up to her before pulling the trigger. The rider, Ganesh Miskin was waiting on the bike with its engine on. In Kalburgi case too, we have strong evidence to say that the man who pulled the trigger on him was the pillion-rider," they added.

Sources said investigation indicates Amit Kale plotted and supervised the killing of Kalburgi. According to the chargesheet filed by SIT, Kale was among the masterminds who executed Gauri's killing. "Amol Kale was present in Dharwad on the day of the killing. We've to establish this fact by means of technical evidences and we are at it," he said.