The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has invoked the stringent Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA) against the accused in the murder of activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh. “Given the gravity of the case, we have decided to invoke Section 3 of KCOCA, which attracts the death penalty and life imprisonment. The accused will not be granted bail,” said a senior police officer.
KCOCA allows for special provisions for prevention and control of criminal activity by an organised crime syndicate or gang, and the accused fall under this category, the officer added.
The SIT’s investigations have revealed that the people behind the murder are spread across the State. According to the police, it was planned by an unknown organisation that operated and trained sleeper cells in various parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Many of the arrested persons have also been linked to the plot to kill K.S. Bhagavan, a Mysuru-based professor.
To date, the SIT has arrested 12 people in connection with the case. The last person to be arrested was Bharat Kurne from Belagavi who allegedly provided arms training to suspected gunman Parshuram Waghmore at his farm.
The police are waiting for a response from the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had arrested three men last Friday with a cache of arms and ammunition.
“The prime accused in the Gauri case, Amol Kale, had trained several people hiding in neighbouring States. The three accused arrested by the Maharashtra ATS could also be linked to this case. However, this can be ascertained only after the ATS probe,” said another senior SIT officer.
