Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Jan 9: Indrajit Lankesh, Kannada filmmaker, publisher and brother of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh, on Tuesday January 9 said the politics was behind the repeated incidents of murders happening in the state and slammed the state government for not taking enough action in the matter.
Addressing a press meet here, he also expressed condolences on the deaths of Deepak Rao and Basheer, who were murdered on January 3 in separate incidents in Katipalla and Kottara Chowki, and revealed that he has extended financial support to their families.
"I visited Deepak Rao's house in Katipalla and met his mother. I saw my mother in her face. It is a very painful incident. I handed over some financial help, but do not want to disclose the amount. After this press meet, I will visit Basheer's house as well," he said, adding that he would visit Danamma's parents in Vijaypura on Thursday Wednesday 10.
"The government has failed to maintain law and order in the state. The government thinks declaring Rs 10 lac for the kin of the deceased is a simple way to avoid protests and put a break on the discussion on such murders.
"I am not part of any political party, so I can openly say that political hand is playing vital role in these murders and their aftermath," he said.
"I request everyone to stop playing politics on corpse. Do not take it to communal level. Do not bring religion and caste into these types of incidents. Do not cook up stories for political gain. If anyone has any information about any murder, pass it on to the police without any delay," he urged.
"Losing a family member is very painful. We experienced it when our sister Gauri was murdered. The government is playing politics in Gauri's case. It has been four months since the murder but they still keep claiming they know the killers. If they really know, then why are not arresting them?
"We need to find out the reason behind each and every murder happening now. Only then can we know who is really involved in orchestrating these murders. But nowadays, the investigation ends up at the point of killers only. The people who are actually behind the murders are roaming freely in society," he said.