Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (EP)
Bengaluru, Jul 20: The investigation into the murder of Gauri Lankesh which has aroused curiosity not only in the state, but also in the country, has picked up momentum during the last few days. The special Investigating Team (SIT) has arrested a resident of Sampaje, Sullia, of Dakshina Kannada district in connection with the case.
Mohan Nayak (30), the seventh accused in this case, was arrested two days ago and produced before 3rd ACMM court, Bengaluru on Thursday evening. SIT officer M N Anucheth informed that the court has granted him 14 days custody to SIT.
Gauri Lankesh
Mohan Nayak was working as a doctor of traditional herbal medicine called 'Nati Vaidya' at Kushalnagar. He was arrested as there was information that he had helped the accused sharp shooter Parashuram Waghmare. It is said that SIT will be able to get important clues relating to the murder with his arrest.
The sixth person arrested by the SIT was 26-year-old Parashuram Waghmare from Sindagi in Vijayapura district of the state. He was held in June. Waghmare was said to have links with rightwing groups.
The SIT previously arrested five people - K T Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja, Amol Kale, Manohar Edve, Sujeeth Kumar alias Praveen and Amit Degvekar.
Naveen Kumar is from Maddur in Mandya district of Karnataka, while Kale and Degvekar are from Maharashtra. Edve and Sujeeth Kumar are also from Karnataka. Naveen Kumar, who had founded the Hindu Yuva Sena, was the first to be caught in Bengaluru while attempting to sell ammunition.
The other four were arrested for planning to kill Kannada writer K S Bhagwan, also known for his anti-Hindutva stand. It was while probing this case that the police suspected their role in Lankesh's killing.
Gauri, known for her strong anti-Hindutva stand, was shot dead in front of her house on September 5 last year, triggering a nationwide outrage.