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Hope Fades In Gauri Lankesh Murder As Probe Slows Down:- It appears that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder case of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh has lost all hope. It is close to 50 days when Lankesh was murdered and the SIT team that had close to 200 members substantially has now shrunk to 50.

According to SIT sources, the officers have been asked to go back to their original postings. These officers were roped in to the SIT from various police stations and other police units from across the state to crack the high-profile case.

“They have been directed to go back and will be called back if required. The decision was taken as we investigated all angles but yet we could not arrive at a conclusion. As work will be pending at places where they were working and as there are no signs of cracking the case anytime soon, we did not want to hold them for long,” an official said.

The SIT that began the investigation with around 25 policemen had bloated to 100, within a few days and close to 200, within 2-3 weeks. Those officers who were experienced in handling complicated and blind cases, were called on by the senior officials. But none of their efforts paid off as Gauri Lankesh’s murderers have not left any clues for the police to chase.

Meanwhile, the SIT now hopes that they could get a crucial lead, by questioning gun suppliers in the grey market, especially in the Karnataka-Maharashtra border, as the sketches of probable assassins released drew a blank.

The SIT has shifted its focus to these areas, with the gun culture mushrooming in the Vijayapura, Bidar, Belagavi and Kalaburagi districts. Around 20 country-made pistols with 49 rounds were recovered last week from 12 people in Vijayapura district alone. They feel keeping tabs on gun suppliers, agents and clients of bordering districts could provide clues.

SUPRAJA