Ramalinga Reddy says the process of evidence collection is on

The probe into the murder of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh is nearing completion and the names of the perpetrators will be revealed in a “matter of weeks”, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said on Saturday.

Interacting with presspersons here, Mr. Reddy said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had narrowed down on those responsible for the killing of Gauri on September 5.

“There is no deadline for the completion of the probe, but it is only a matter of weeks now. Unlike the murders of (Narendra) Dabholkar and (Govind) Pansare [who were murdered in Maharasthra in the past three years] where the probe has stretched on for years, the SIT here has definite clues and knows the identities of those who killed Gauri. The process of evidence collection is on,” said Mr. Reddy.

Based on eyewitness accounts, the SIT had released sketches of two suspects, but sources said they have yet to yield results.

Protest threat

Meanwhile, Gauri Lankesh Hatya Virodhi Vedike on Saturday threatened the government that it would stage a protest if the culprits are not arrested before December 5.

Mr. Reddy has said Central agencies, including Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation and even the Election Commission are being misused against the Opposition.

Recently, Minister M.B. Patil alleged that his phone was being tapped; while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that I-T officials had told Minister D.K. Shivakumar, during a raid, to join the BJP.

“This is what happens when there is an autocratic government in the country where all the power is vested in one person. All agencies are being misused in large scale, something that was not seen in the previous UPA government,” said Mr. Reddy, who added that senior police officials had been asked to present a report on Mr. Patil’s allegations.