Gauri Lankesh murder case: Parashuram Waghmare shot scribe, claims SIT

Just a day before the first death anniversary of journalist Gauri Lankesh, the Special Investigation Team has given an all-new turn to the murder case, confirming that Parashuram Waghmare was the one who shot and killed her in Bengaluru.

The Directorate of Forensic Science after receiving a reconstructed video of the entire sequence of events and comparing it with available CCTV footage confirmed that the man in both the visuals is the same.

“The FSL lab confirmed that the person who appeared in both visuals was the same. It establishes our line of investigation,”  said a SIT officer on conditions of anonymity, as quoted by NDTV.

Known for a fearless approach which was well reflected in her writing, unknown attackers shot Lankesh at close range at her place last year. The SIT also has begun looking for people who are directly or indirectly involved with the murder case and so far arrested 12 people have been arrested by them.

“They have absconded after the Maharashtra ATS launched a manhunt for them. They are all from Maharashtra and Goa,” said the officer. Also, at least 50 people have been identified in Karnataka who are said to be a part of this unnamed gang that killed Lankesh.  An equal number of activists have been identified in Maharashtra.

He also added, “The group has a vast size and network and is active across India. We have identified many of them and have shared the names of people involved in such crimes with our higher-ups. It is up to them to take action.”

The radical group which started making their presence felt after the blast in Margao nine years ago, has already killed Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi apart from Lankesh.

An officer of the SIT said, “In Karnataka, it was Manohar and Sujith who were recruiting people, while Amol Kale was the kingpin of the gang and mastermind of Lankesh murder case.”

The police, while conducting raids in the hideouts and houses of these gang members, found out books written by hypnotherapist Jayant Balaji Athavale, who is also the founder of the right-wing body Sanatan Sanstha.

The Sanatan Sanstha have earlier been charged with the murders of rationalists Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and Lankesh. However, the body has claimed that the arrested people weren’t its members