'Right-Wing Groups Targeted Gauri Lankesh': Sister Kavitha Tells Court As Trial In Journalist's Murder Case Begins

Nearly five years after journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh's murder, the trial in her murder case has begun at a Bengaluru court on Monday

Gauri Lankesh.

New Delhi: Nearly five years after journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh's murder, the trial in her murder case has begun at a Bengaluru court on Monday and Gauri's younger sister Kavitha Lankesh said that Gauri was constantly targetted by right-wing and casteist groups for her writings and social activities.

According to a chargesheet which was filed over three years ago by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) department of Karnataka police, Lankesh's murder case involved 18 men from fringe groups that targetted people they considered to be anti-hindu. Seventeen of the accused have been arrested.

Gauri, 55, was shot dead at her residence in west Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. Nearly five years after her death, Gauri's murder case trial has commenced on Monday.

According to SIT probe, the plan was hatched by Amol Kale, a former Hindu Janajagruti Samithi leader. He has allegedly arranged to provide weapons to the killers, said The News minute report. The SIT team was reportedly presented a medal of excellence in 2019 by the Centre and a cash reward by the state government for being able to crack the case.

The court summoned the first witness on May 27 to commence the trial but because some of the accused lodged in the Maharashtra jail couldn't be produced in the court due to which the statement wasn't recorded. "The jail authorities at Bengaluru and Arthur Road Jail, Mumbai, are directed to ensure the virtual presence of the accused during the trial," in an order the court said as quoted by Indian Express.

The court of the principal sessions judge has drawn up a schedule for conducting the trial with hearing held for five days during the second week of every month.