[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The SIT probing Gauri Lankesh’s murder has ruled out professional rivalry as reason for killing
More than five weeks after its formation, the special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh released sketches of the two main suspects on Saturday and appealed to the public to help nab them.
Lankesh, a well known anti-establishment voice with strident anti-right wing views, was shot dead outside her house on 5 September. The incident had led to outrage and protests across the country.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]”We have prepared these sketches with the help of separate eyewitness accounts and our technical inputs. We are probing two suspects, although we have released three sketches because of multiple eyewitness accounts,” SIT chief BK Singh said.
Addressing a press conference, Singh also said that they were not going into the religion of the suspects “by external appearance like tilak or earring” as they could be a ploy to mislead the probe.
Seeking cooperation from the locals, Singh said that the suspects had stayed in the city for at least a week to do a recce of Gauri’s house.
“Before committing the crime, the suspects have stayed in the City at least for a week and have done a recce of Gauri’s house. We want the public to help us identify if they had stayed in their area,” Singh said.
Asked if Gauri’s murder was done by the same people who had killed Kalburgi, Singh said that nothing could be said conclusively as there were both similarities and dissimilarities.
He also said that officials investigated about 200–250 people in connection with the case and had eliminated the professional angle as a motive for murder. “All other angles, including personal are still open,” he said.
Earlier, reports had alleged that the five key suspects in Lankesh’s murder were associated with the right-wing Hindu organisation Sanatan Sanstha. The police have, however, said they are yet to establish suspects’ association with any organisation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]