Year after Gauri Lankesh killing, SIT says case in final stage of inquiry

Bengaluru: Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder case is in the final stage of investigation and a chargesheet will be filed in two months, a senior SIT official probing the killing said on Wednesday.

The Special Investigation Team, under the leadership of Additional Commissioner of Police (West) B K Singh, has arrested 12 people in connection with the killing of Lankesh, known for her strong anti-Hindutva stand, on September 5 last year.

Some of the people arrested in the case are allegedly linked to Sanatan Sanstha and its allied outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti.

"The case is in final stage of investigation. We will file a chargesheet in the case in two months," Investigating Officer M N Anucheth said.

The Gauri Memorial Trust and her supporters organised a series of events here to mark the first anniversary of her death.

The Gauri Balaga and Gauri Lankesh Memorial Trust submitted a joint six-point memorandum to Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala.

The memorandum demanded that Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliates be declared "terror organisations."

Earlier, a large number of activists led by Lankesh's sister Kavitha and playwright Girish Karnad staged a march to Raj Bhavan to mark the journalist-activist's first death anniversary.

Other activists, who participated in the march, were freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, social activist Swami Agnivesh Gujarat MLA and Dalit activist Jignesh Mewani and lawyer Teesta Setalvad, among others.

A 'Freedom of Expression' meet was held on the occasion.

The Trust also released a pen with a photograph and signature of Lankesh.

Mevani alleged that there was a connect between the killings of four progressive and rationalist writers.

He also alleged that without the involvement of state machinery, such murders could not happen.

Wife of late professor MM Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh's mother Indira, and Meghna Pansare, daughter of CPI leader Govind Pansare also addressed the gathering.

Writers, thinkers and journalists released a copy of newly launched Kannada tabloid "Nyaya Patha" during the meet.

Lankesh was shot dead on the night of September 5, 2017, from close range in front of her Rajarajeshwari Nagar house around 8 p.m.

The SIT got a breakthrough in its probe when a Gujarat-based forensic lab confirmed that Parashuram Waghmare shot and killed her.