KT Naveen Kumar, the main accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder probe, has reportedly told the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that a senior member of a Hindutva outfit knew about the existence of an “extremist unit” in the parent organisation of the outfit.
The Indian Express reports that Kumar, an activist of the Hindu Yuva Sena and resident of Maddur, told the Karnataka Police SIT that Bengaluru-based co-ordinator of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, Mohan Gowda, got him in touch with Sanatan Sanstha during the planning phase of Lankesh’s murder.
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti is an affiliate of the Sanatan Sanstha.
Gowda allegedly connected Naveen Kumar last year to Sujeet Kumar alias Praveen, a 37-year-old Udupi resident, who was part of this unit and was arrested on 31 May, reports Indian Express. Kumar was arrested on 2 March. He had allegedly provided logistical support to those who came to kill Gauri Lankesh at her Bengaluru home on 5 September 2017.
According to reports, four of Kumar’s associates were taken into custody last week. The Indian Express report states that Kumar revealed the information in “a signed voluntary statement” to the SIT.
Kumar claimed that Gowda told him about “like-minded people” who shared his view of using arms and weapons to protect the Hindu dharma.
Gowda, however, called the revelation “a police conspiracy”.
“We will hold a press conference soon on behalf of the HJS to speak on these issues,” he told The Indian Express.
The police chargesheet had earlier revealed the accused had killed journalist and social activist Gauri Lankesh because they “were angry with her for speaking against Hindu dharma, Gods of Hindu dharma and insulting Hindu dharma.”