Bengaluru Police makes first arrest in Gauri Lankesh murder case, arrested member of Hindu Yuva Sena

Bengaluru Police on Friday claimed a major breakthrough in the sensational murder of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. They have claimed to make their first arrest in connection to the murder of the Kannad journalist.

A special investigation team (SIT) of Karnataka Police formed to investigate and book the culprits of Gauri Lankesh murder case officially arrested KT Naveen Kumar.

SIT investigation officer M N Anucheth confirmed the development to Naveen Kumar.

He was detained by the Karnataka Police from Bengaluru city bus stand on February 18 under Arms Act for illegal possession of a revolver and 15 rounds of bullet.

According to reliable sources in the Bengaluru Police, Naveen Kumar, in his mid-30s, is a resident of Mandya district in the state and is associated with the Hindu Yuva Sena.

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Sources added, he is not directly involved in the shootout but played a ‘small but significant role’ in Lankesh’s killing.

“He is not one of the main accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case,” added the officer.

Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist and editor of Lankesh Patrike — a weekly newspaper, was a right-wing ideology critic. Unknown motorcycle-borne criminals shot her dead on September 5 evening last year in front of her residence.