Gauri Lankesh murder: Sanatan Sanstha denies involvement, says 'anti-Hindu' elements trying to divert probe

Panaji: Goa-based right-wing organisation Sanatan Sanstha on Friday said some “anti-Hindu elements” are spreading false news about its “involvement” in the killing of Karnataka journalist Gauri Lankesh in a bid to “divert” the investigation.

Lankesh (55) was shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru by an unidentified assailant on 5 September. The incident had triggered a massive outrage across the country.

Though the Karnataka government has said that they didn’t want to discuss the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report which could indicate the type of weapon used in the crime, the SIT has said it was looking into whether any right-wing group was involved or was it the handiwork of Naxals, who were unhappy with the efforts of Lankesh to bring them into the mainstream.

Sanstha spokesman Chetan Rajhans said an attempt was being made by some “anti-Hindu” elements to “divert” the probe.

“False news that Sanatan’s activists are involved in the killing of Gauri Lankesh is being spread with the assistance of some media houses. This is nothing but an attempt being made by anti-Sanatan and anti-Hindu elements to divert the investigation,” Rajhans said in a statement.

He said Sanstha will organise a press conference soon to convey its side.

The SIT probing the 2015 killing of Left leader Govind Pansare in Maharashtra had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Sanatan Sanstha member Virendra Tawde at a court in Kolhapur.

Sanatan activists Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar, both accused in the 2013 murder of the Maharashtra anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Pune, are still absconding.