Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after meeting with Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and senior police officials, told reporters that a Special Investigation Team headed by an IG-level officer would be constituted to exclusively investigate the murder of Gauri Lankesh.
While stating that it was too early to conclude who the attackers could be, he said he was confident that the case would be solved soon and assailants apprehended.
He said the footage of CCTv in her house had been scrutinised and one person wearing a helmet can be seen shooting at her. She had not even stepped inside the house. “This is what we have seen from one CCTv camera. There were four cameras. Footage will be further scrutinised,” he said.
Asked if there was any link between Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M.M. Kalburgi murder with this one, he said it was to premature to come to that conclusion. “The three case had a link because a common weapon was used. We still have to investigate this case,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.
“We have an open mind. If the family members of Gauri Lankesh insist on the case being handed over to the CBI, we will consider it,” he said.
To a question, Mr. Siddaramaiah said Gauri Lankesh used to meet him often to discuss various issues. “However, not once did she ever mention that she was under some threat.”
Responding in the negative to a question on “failure of the government in protecting rationalists and free-thinkers,” he said law and order situation in the State was good. Additionally, he said he had instructed the police to give protection to social activists and free thinkers.
