Gauri Lankesh murder: MLC’s PA trained Parashuram Waghmare, supplied bullets

Express News Service |

Published: 26th July 2018 06:16 AM

Late senior journalist Gauri Lankesh (File photo)

BENGALURU/ MADIKERI : Rajesh D Bangera, the 10th accused to be arrested in connection with journalist Gauri Lankesh murder, has reportedly confessed before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that he had trained Parashuram Waghmare, the suspected shooter, in using firearms and supplied live bullets to the killers.Bangera (50), a resident of Paluru in Kodagu district, was working as personal assistant to Kodagu MLC Veena Achaiah. Earlier, he worked as an official in the Education department and later worked as PA to District Panchayat Official Sherin Subbaiah, before working under Veena Achaiah.

Sources said that Bangera had been an adherent member of a Sanatan Sanstha and he had left the organisation after getting a government job. The SIT officials had landed in Kodagu a week ago before arresting him on Tuesday.The SIT has submitted his voluntary statement to the court in a sealed cover and it is learnt that Bangera has confessed to his role in Gauri’s killing. “He has two gun licences and is well-trained in shooting.

He has close ties with accused Amol Kale and others. He has confessed to have procured and supplied 20 live bullets to the team that is behind Gauri’s murder. Prior to that, he admitted he trained Parashuram Waghmare, Ganesh Miskin and others associated with the outfit in firing. The training sessions were held at several places in Karnataka and Maharashtra,” an SIT official said.Bangera’s name surfaced in a diary seized from Kale’s possession. “Kale had written ‘Rajesh Sir’ in the diary and that is where we got to know of him initially. We followed the lead and gathered more information about him,” the official added.