Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 11: Journalist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead on September 5, last year, but her murder was being plotted in mid-2017. A source on condition of anonymity told Deccan Chronicle that she was targeted for being vocal about her anti-right views.
The special investigation team (SIT) may very soon crack the sensational murder case as they have a 'fair idea' of the core team who were involved in conspiracy and murder of Lankesh. "All they have to do now is piece the evidence together and hunt for a crucial ‘link’ between the conspirators and the crime," said the source.
The conspiracy for the cold-blooded murder was reportedly hatched in Belagavi and Goa and SIT has also taken arrested suspect Naveen Kumar to these places.
The source says that though Naveen has not revealed details, SIT has clues of those involved in the murder and one Praveen is currently being monitored very closely.
Gauri Lankesh murder investigation has taken SIT to Bengaluru, Mandya, coastal and North Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. People well versed with Marathi, Konkani and Tulu besides Kannada are currently on the ground gathering credible information, the source said.
Was rationalist K S Bhagwan the next target?
Meanwhile, another report on The News Minute reveals that rationalist Prof K S Bhagwan was probably the next target of the conspirators who killed Gauri Lankesh.
The suspicion arose as the arrested KT Naveen Kumar was supplying weapons to kill the next target to one of the team members when Central Crime Branch arrested him on February 18.
SIT is currently questioning a man, who has links to gunrunners in Bijapur and allegedly provided weapons for killing.
The source says that it is only a suspicion and can reveal how the weapons were procured only after gathering more evidence. It is suspected that the gunrunner had given the weapon to Naveen who had to deliver it to his team members. Naveen was aware of the conspiracy to kill Lankesh and his custody was extended by the court, due to the evidence submitted by the investigation team in a sealed envelope, the source said.
Links with Sanatan Sanstha?
A book written by founder of Sanatan Sanstha was found at Naveen Kumar’s residence in Mandya. However, one directly cannot link the outfit because of the book. Maybe Naveen believed in their ideology. The SIT is nevertheless investigating to see if Naveen had any links to the outfit, the source said. The Sanatan Sanstha has vehemently denied any connection to the case.
The court has decided to hear the SIT's plea to conduct lie-detector test on Naveen Kumar on March 15.