Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 25: In connection with the murder of veteran journalist Gauri Lankesh near her home in the city, the special investigation team (SIT) has taken into custody an activist of Hindu Jagran Vedike from Majestic area in the city, reports claimed.

At the same time, three youngsters from Mangaluru also have been taken into custody for questioning, reports said. It is reported that the SIT has been able to put together some important information about the crime that has attracted national and international attention.

The person who was arrested from the city has been identified as K T Naveen alias Hotte Manja from Kadalur in Maddur taluk, Mandya district.

Reports stated that the team, which got information that Naveen had visited Majestic area here with a pistol on February 18, succeeded in taking him into custody and recovering a country made pistol and five 0.32 mm live bullets from his possession at 6 pm that day. A case about the same was registered in Upparpet police station here.

It is said that on the basis of information provided by Naveen, three young men were taken into custody from Mangaluru and brought here on Thursday night. They are being subjected to interrogation. In the meantime, Naveen, who was booked under Illegal Arms Act, was produced in the court and taken into police custody for further investigation.

Sources claim that Naveen has complete information about the killers of Gauri Lankesh but he was not directly involved with the murder. He contacted a Sangh Parivar activist, who in turn introduced him to two sharp shooters of north Indian origin, it is said. Reportedly, he provided shelter to these men in a farm between Kanakapura and Kollegal, and helped them to pool information about the movements of Gauri. As per information, he also helped them with moving around house and office of Gauri and get to know the areas well. The SIT is also involved with investigating the allegation that he also helped the sharp shooters to flee after committing the crime.

Reports said that Naveen, who was not in the city on the day of the crime, had distributed sweets to his friends immediately after the murder was committed, and the police are investigating on this aspect too.

Mangaluru city police commissioner, T R Suresh, said he has no information about three young men from the city having been taken into custody by the SIT probing Gauri Lankesh's murder.

Home minister denies arrest

However, addressing media persons here on Saturday February 24, Karnataka home minister, Ramalinga Reddy said that none has been arrested so far relating to the murder of veteran journalist, Gauri Lankesh. He however, hastened to add that investigation is moving on right path.

"I have already informed developments in the said case in the state assembly. We are confident of arresting the culprits soon. However, we have not got any clue about the murderers of litterateur, M M Kalburgi," he clarified.

Reacting to the demand made by BJP leader, Shobha Karandlaje, about the incusion of the name of Mohammed Nalapad, who had attacked Vidwath, under rowdy list, he said that it is left to the police to do so "Why Karandlaje is not demanding to add the accused who attacked Eshwarappa's personal assistant, Vinay Kumar, murderers of JD(S) leader, Govinde Gowda, and rapists in Danamma case from Viayapura in which BJP activists were involved?" he wondered.

"When the police served notice on Yeddyurappa to appear before them relating to attack on Vinay and fracture of his hand, Yedyurappa cited his old age as reason for not being able to appear for interrogation. At the same time, he is able to undertake tour of the state. How is this possible?" he wanted to know.

He said that Congress leaders condemn every attack of violence and crime apolitically but BJP is not following this principle. "Police are now transparently conducting investigation and arresting the accused. As the central government has passed Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act with instructions to take atrocities against children seriously and consider them as rape, it might look on the face of it that these cases are on the rise. BJP is targetting us for political reasons, and I will prove my claim about reduction of crime rate with facts and figures," he said.