Special Investigation Team pores over right wing group’s papers

SIT probing murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh is learnt to have visited the Bengaluru office of a right wing organisation, which was under the scanner in the murder cases of rationalists earlier.
Murdered senior journalist Gauri Lankesh  (File photo)
Murdered senior journalist Gauri Lankesh (File photo)

BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team probing murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh is learnt to have visited the Bengaluru office of a right wing organisation, which was under the scanner in the murder cases of rationalists earlier, on Friday. The SIT, which is investigating the possible involvement of right-wing organisations in the case, went through documents at the organisation’s office and also took some documents with them, sources said.

The sources said they are continuing to probe the case from all angles. Meanwhile, ballistics experts at the FSL have given a report to the team confirming that the firearm used to kill Gauri was similar to the one used in the murder of Prof M M Kalburgi. But they are not sure if it was the same weapon.
The sources said similar weapons were used in the murders of rationalists Govind Pansare and Narendra Dhabolkar in Maharashtra. It is learnt that a team has been sent to Maharashtra to question few people connected with right-wing groups.

However the SIT, according to the sources, is not rejecting the theory of involvement of Left-wing extremists and it is also on a lookout for absconding Maoist leader Vikram Gowda. Gowda is said to have been upset with Gauri’s effort to bring Maoists to the mainstream. He has been declared a fugitive.
The SIT has interrogated more than a hundred people so far in connection with the case. The personal angle, writers and business deals are all being looked into. It is learnt that the SIT had rounded up a few people based on CCTV footage gathered from residences in the locality where Gauri was residing. It is said that the SIT, which found a person strolling suspiciously near her house in the footage, was subjected to interrogation that lasted nearly 48 hours. The person, identified as an instructor in a fitness centre, was let off that he is innocent.

Meanwhile, following reports regarding the involvement of Kunigal Giri in the murder, the history-sheeter himself appeared before the SIT to clarify he has no role in the murder. However, he was sent back by the investigation team. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) M N Anucheth said SIT has no intention of interrogating Giri.

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The New Indian Express
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