National
SIT releases sketches of Lankesh murder suspects (Second Lead)
Bengaluru, Oct 14 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder last month of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh on Saturday released three sketches of two persons suspected to be her killers.
“Three sketches of two suspects have been made on the basis of their description by eyewitness accounts and the CCTV footage obtained. Two sketches of one suspect were made by two sketch-makers as per eyewitness accounts,” SIT head and Inspector General of Police (IGP) B.K. Singh told reporters here.
Lankesh, 55, editor of Kannada weekly tabloid “Gauri Lankesh Patrike” was shot dead outside her house in the city’s southwest suburb on the night of September 5, sparking outrage and nationwide protests.
“We have got video clips of a motorcycle rider who is suspected to be involved in the commission of the offence,” asserted Singh.
Giving an account of the investigation conducted over the last one month, Singh said the suspects, aged between 25-35 years, were residing in the city for at least one week before they committed the crime.
“It is suspected that these persons stayed in the area near the residence of Gauri Lankesh,” he said.
They carried out a “recce” around Lankesh’s home prior to committing the crime, he said.
The SIT has interrogated more than 200-250 people as part of the investigation so far, added Singh.
“We request the public to help us find their hideouts in the city,” he added.
He also asserted that the 150-member SIT is carrying out the investigation “without any bias and is hunting for the suspects based on the sketches”.
“We are investigating only on the basis of evidence, and are not looking at any particular institution behind these suspects,” Singh asserted.
Asked if the SIT could find any link between Lankesh’s murder to the killings of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar (shot dead in 2013), and scholar M.M. Kalburgi (shot dead in 2015), he said, “Till date, we could not find any such links.”
He said “there is a personal angle, a professional angle, and an activist angle” that they are probing in the murder, adding, “So far, we have ruled out the professional angle, which has to do with her journalism (meaning that no professional rivalry led to her murder).”
The team is investigating “all the angles with a free mind”, he said.
“We have started our investigation based on the CCTV footage that was obtained from outside Gauri Lankesh’s residence. We have gone through at least 75 terabytes (TB) of video footage so far from various surveillance cameras around the locality.”.
Along with sketches of the suspects, the SIT has also released to the public two video clips captured through CCTVs around the locality of Lankesh’s residence showing a motor cycle rider wearing a helmet.
Those sharing any information that could lead to the killers shall be rewarded as announced by the state government, he said.
In September, Home Minister of Karnataka Ramalinga Reddy had announced that the state government had decided to reward Rs 10 lakh to anyone providing information and clues to Lankesh’s killers.
“It is due to the public help that we have reached this far in the probe and could release the sketches of the suspects,” Singh added.
“Public is requested to share any information they may have related to the suspects or the motor cycle used by them on the number 9480800202 and on email [email protected],” Singh said.
A day after the murder, the state government had formed a SIT under the state’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) to probe the murder with inter-state ramifications as the suspects could be from within Karnataka or other states.
The SIT has IGP Singh as its head and Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) M.N. Anucheth as the main Investigation Officer (IO).
–IANS
bha/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
