The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing into the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, has made a slew of arrests over the last few weeks, bringing the total number of accused to 12.
The police, however, have been less than forthcoming on the role of the six men who were named accused after Parashuram Waghmore, the suspected gunman, was arrested on June 2018. The team is currently questioning two more persons of interest hailing from Udupi.
Sources said that of the six persons arrested recently, only Ganesh Miskin, 27, from Hubballi, is suspected to be the biker who drove Parashuram Waghmore to Gauri’s house.
The other five, Amit Baddi from Hubballi, Rajesh D. Bangera from Madikeri, Suresh from Bengaluru, Mohan Naik from Sullia and Bharat Kurne from Belagavi, allegedly played key roles in the logistics of the larger conspiracy. According to police officials, Suresh, Bharat and Mohan had knowledge of the plot to kill Gauri, provided shelter to the accused and helped them while on the run.
Rajesh is suspected to have helped in providing armed training for Waghmore and others.
SIT officials said that in the first phase of arrests, they had cracked the module that executed the hit, from Amol Kale, the alleged handler, to Parashuram Waghmore, the alleged shooter.
“There were three parts in the conspiracy: the weapon used to kill Gauri Lankesh; the masterminds who might have links to the murders of other rationalists and up the chain of command to Amol Kale; those who were aware of the plot and helped in the logistics locally,” said an official.
Of the three, SIT has made a slew of arrests of those involved in the logistics.
This will go a long way in tying up the loose ends in the case when it goes to trial, an official said.
