Updated
Bengaluru, Jun 12 (PTI): Another suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, police said on Tuesday but denied speculation about him being the assassin.
The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of Karnataka police probing Gauri Lankesh's killing said it has arrested 26-year-old Parashuram Waghmare from Sindhagi in Vijaypura district of the state.
Waghmare was produced before the 3rd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Bengaluru which remanded him in SIT custody for 14 days for further interrogation, an official release said.
Inspector General of Police B K Singh, who heads the SIT, told PTI that nothing has emerged during the probe so far to suggest that Waghmare had shot Lankesh. "No. That thing has not come in our investigation," he said amid speculation in the media that Waghmare could be the assassin.
Waghmare's is the 6th arrest in connection with the killing of Lankesh, who was shot dead in front of her house here on September 5, 2017.
Lankesh was known for her strong views against hardline Hindutva.
"His role in the conspiracy and other details will be revealed later as it would affect the investigation at this stage," the SIT release said.
Waghmare was said to have links to right wing groups. The SIT had earlier 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 Bhagawan, also known for his anti-Hindutva stand. It was while probing this case that the police suspected their role in Lankesh's assassination.
Earlier Report
Bengaluru: SIT arrests key accused who allegedly shot Gauri Lankesh
Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (DC)
Bengaluru, Jun 12: Parashurama Whagmare, a key accused in the sensational murder of activist-writer Gauri Lankesh has been arrested here on Tuesday June 12.
Parashuram Waghmare, a resident of Sindhagi is said to be the key accused who shot at the writer in 2017.
The 26-year-old accused was arrested by the SIT sleuths and has been produced before 3rd ACMM court. He has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.
It is learnt that he was arrested in Maharashtra.
Sources said that he is a Sri Rama Sene member and was among the right-wing activists who allegedly hoisted the national flag of Pakistan in Sindhagi in 2012.
Gauri Lankesh was killed on September 5 in 2017 at her Rajarajeshwari Nagar residence by unidentified men.
The SIT had arrested Naveen Kumar alias Hotte Manja earlier in this case. Later three more accused were arrested who had plotted to eliminate Prof Bhagwan.