Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 26: A diary recovered by the special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder of journalist, Gauri Lankesh, has revealed that the killers had prepared a list of people who are openly critical of Hinduism as their targets. On top of this list is the name of acclaimed Kannada writer, playwright, movie actor and director, Girish Karnad, it is learnt.

It is said that the concerned had made a long list in which the number 1 was found noted against Karnad's name, while 3 was written against Gauri's name. The list was found prepared in Devnagari script. Names of politician and writer, B T Lalitha Nayak, Veerabhadra Chennamalla Swamiji of Nidumamidi Math, and C S Dwarakanath were in the list, it is stated. All of them have been vocally critical of Hindutva and Hindu Swamijis.

SIT sources confirmed that the diary recovered from the arrested accused in the case has laid bare the fact that they wanted to eliminate Karnad even before Gauri. In the eyes of the concerned, the crime of Karnad, Gauri and others was that they were bitterly critical of Hindutva principles.

The said diary was recovered by SIT officials from one of the accused. Issuing disputable statements about Hindutva and followers of Hinduism was considered by these people as crime, and for this reason, it is said, they gunned down Gauri Lankesh in front of her home at Rajarajeshwari Nagar here during September last.

So far, the SIT has taken into custody ten persons, treating them as suspects in Gauri murder case. Rajesh D Bangera (50), who has been the last of the accused arrested so far, has been accused of helping accused Amol Kale, Amit Digvekar and Parashuram Waghmare. He was arrested on July 23, and has since been remanded to police custody till August 6.