(Image source from: Ndtv.com and NewIndianexpress.com)
SIT Questions Deceased Journalist Gauri Lankesh’s Brother:- The Special Investigation Team (SIT) suspects that the murder of journalist and activist, Gauri Lankesh was a lone wolf attack and the bike borne killer may not have followed Gauri from her office in Gandhi Bazaar but from midway. The SIT has intensified its investigation into the murder at her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar on September 5.
The killer was well aware of the surroundings, but wanted to make sure if there was anyone else at Gauri’s house as her mother stayed with her occasionally. At around 3.30 pm on September 5, a bike-borne man wearing a helmet first came near Gauri’s house, glanced at the main door and sped away, said one of the sources familiar with the developments.
And again at around 7.15 pm, the bike-borne assassin made an entry next time to confirm if there was anyone else at the house. “It can be interpreted by looking at the CCTV footage that he desperately wanted to confirm if there was anyone else at the house. When he saw no lights switched on at the house during his second visit, he may have decided to proceed with his plan,” the source said. The killer appears to be 32-35 years old, added the source. “That is because the killer would not have had enough time to reach Gandhi Bazaar from Rajarajeshwari Nagar after his second visit to the house at 7.15 pm and the actual shooting at 8 pm when he fired four bullets at her, three of which entered her body, while another pierced the wall,” they said.
The SIT on Wednesday is learnt to have questioned her brother Indrajit Lankesh, who in 2005 had threatened her with a gun over a family dispute. The SITs formed by the state government to investigate the killing of journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh. And according to sources, Indrajit did not cooperate with the investigators and his replies to all their questions were vague. “We are examining all the angles. Indrajit was summoned for a formal questioning and to know from him if he could share any information which could help us in the investigation. His cooperation was not satisfactory,” the source said.
To be recalled, everything was not right between Gauri and Indrajit. Over the ownership of the tabloid ‘Lankesh Patrike’, the differences between the two started in 2005. The patrike was started by their father P. Lankesh. A complaint had been reportedly filed by Gauri stating Indrajit had threatened her at gunpoint. Later, Indrajit took over the tabloid and ran it, while Gauri started a new tabloid ‘Gauri Lankesh Patrike’.
The source said, Indrajit maintained that the relationship between him and Gauri started to return to normal. He, however, suspected that Naxals, right wingers and right wing sympathizers are raking up the decade old issue and pointing fingers at the family feud behind Gauri’s killing, the source said.
SUPRAJA
