Gauri Lankesh murder case: Accused receive grand welcome; pro-Hindu organisations arrange special pujas, garlands and reception

VIJAYAPURA: The accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case were given a grand reception by pro-Hindu organisations. Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave were accorded a warm welcome at Vijayapura in Karnataka. The two were granted bail by the trial court on October 9. The two were welcomed when they returned home.

They were greeted with chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' by activists of organisations including Shri Ram Sena. After performing puja for the two at the Kalika Devi temple in Vijayapura, the activists garlanded the two in front of the statue at Shivaji Circle and arranged a reception for them. The investigating team had found that it was Parashuram Waghmore who shot Gauri Lankesh dead. Of the 18 accused in the case, 12 are currently out on bail.

The murder of Gauri Lankesh took place after Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. Gauri's writing in Lankesh Patrike had irked activists of extremist Hindutva organisations. A total of 19 people, including Parashuram Waghmore, were arrested for allegedly opening fire on a bike. The Karnataka High Court had exempted Mohan Nayak, who helped the accused to go into hiding, from the Karnataka Control of Organised Crime Act (KCOCA)