HUBBALLI: Kranti Sena has condemned the arrest of youths Amit Baddi and Ganesh Miskin in connection with the assassination of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh .

The Hindu outfit activists staged a protest in front of the tahsildar's office here on Tuesday and demanded that they are released immediately. The Sena leader Vitthal Pawar said that the special investigation team has arrested 'innocent' Hindus Parashuram Wagmore, KT Naveen Kumar, Sujith Kumar, Amol Kale, Amit Degwekar, Manovar Yavade and Mohan Nayak. The SIT also arrested

Baddi and Miskin in Hubballi. "Though the youths were not involved in the murder, the SIT has arrested them illegally. Hence, they should be released immediately," he demanded.

The activist also said that the families of the arrested youths are poor and struggling to make the ends meet. He also warned of intensifying the protest if they are not released.

It may be recalled here that Baddi, 27, and Miskin, 28, were arrested on Sunday evening. Both the youths are friends. While Baddi is a small jeweler, Miskin is an entrepreneur involved in agarbatti business. With the arrest of the duo, the total number of arrests in connection with the murder has taken to nine. Both the suspects are in 14-day SIT custody.

