With no leads on the identity of the gunman who shot down journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh outside her house in R.R. Nagar early this month, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) responsible for the case has commenced interrogation of rowdy sheeter Kunigal Giri and six of his associates, currently in judicial custody, to see if they have information on key arms smugglers in the city.
More than 100 persons from across the State have been questioned by the police but there has been no breakthrough.
According to a senior police officer, Kunigal has over 100 criminal cases against him, all related to dacoity and extortion. “He used to procure arms from illegal traders and he knows their whereabouts and modus operandi.” “We are questioning Kunigal and his associates to see if we can get some leads on the gun trade,” said a senior police officer. He added that the killer was not working alone and that local logistics support had been provided to the gunman.
Another team on the trail of the murder weapon is currently in Vijayapura and Belagavi, looking for arms dealers and suspected contract killers who could have been involved in the murder.
Indrajith Lankesh, Gauri's brother, denied police claims that he was not cooperating with the SIT probe. “In my statement to the police, I gave details of the fallout we both had 14 years ago. We have had good familial relations since then. She came to my house on Ganesha and other festivals and we celebrated together,” he said.
