Indrajit quizzed in Gauri case, not cooperating, says SIT

Continuing the probe into the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials questioned Indrajit Lankesh, brother of Gauri Lankesh in detail on Wednesday.

The questioning was based on the complaint Gauri had filed in 2005 accusing Indrajit of threatening her at gunpoint over a property dispute.

“We are trying to check the weapon Indrajit had and he is not cooperating with investigations," a senior police officer said. The 'non-cooperation' could be due to personal ego issues with Indrajit questioning how a brother can be quizzed over his own sister's death, which the police could understand. However, they need to question and record all statements of everybody concerned with her death before reaching any conclusions, the officer added.

Meanwhile, the police are waiting for the ballistic report about the firearm used to kill Gauri. The four bullets, of which one is fragmented, are with the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), which is preparing a report which will take at least two weeks to be out, a senior official said.

Rally protesting Gauri killing sponsored by govt: BJP

The BJP on Wednesday accused the state government of sponsoring a rally organised to protest the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru.

Party spokesperson S Suresh Kumar told reporters that none of the speakers at the rally took the state government to task for the collapse of law and order, which, according to the BJP leader, is responsible for the killing of Gauri. Instead, the speakers chose to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Sangh Parivar, he added.

“Being silent on the Congress and strident on the Sangh Parivar is proof that the entire programme was Congress-sponsored. The anger was not misdirected but the target (Prime Minister and the Sangh Parivar) was consciously and deliberately chosen (sic),” he stated.

He also said the presence of Dinesh Amin Mattu, media adviser to the chief minister, at the rally and making arrangements corroborates the role of the government.