Gauri Lankesh murder case: SIT has got clues, reiterates Ramalinga Reddy

Bengaluru: Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday claimed that the Special Investigation Team probing the killing of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh has got clues and is in the process of gathering evidence.

Gauri was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home here on the night of September 5.

“We have got clues, but we cannot tell things to the media for now, because we should have correct evidence for the clues we have got," he told reporters at Chikkaballapura.

He said, “If there is no proper evidence when we file a chargesheet at the court, it won't stand. So we are trying to collect the evidence correctly... Our SIT is working towards gathering evidence."

The minister had on September 9 made similar claims about the SIT having gathered "some clues" in connection with the case, as he expressed hopes about nabbing the culprits soon.

The state government, which has constituted the SIT headed by IGP (Intelligence) B.K. Singh, has announced a Rs 10 lakh reward to anyone who gives clues about the killing that led to outrage and protests.

As a political slug fest broke out over the killing, her family had pleaded against giving a political colour to it. The family had said the investigators should look into all angles behind Gauri's killing, whether it was right wing or Naxals, as reports have emerged about a possible Naxal hand, other than suspected involvement of right-wing extremists, the ideology Gauri opposed.

Conference in delhi on october 5
A group of activists, writers, intellectuals, filmmakers and journalists under the banner of Forum Against the Assassination of Gauri Lankesh will hold a rally and national-level conference at Jantar Mantar on October 5. The rally is to pressurise the government for speedy investigation into the killing of Gauri.