Police homing in on Gauri Lankesh killers: Karnataka Home Minister

Mysuru: Home Minister, Ramalinga Reddy seemed confident on Thursday that the killers of senior journalist/activist, Gauri Lankesh,who was gunned down outside her home a few weeks ago, would soon be caught.

“The police investigation has made good progress, but the details cannot be divulged as this could hamper police work. We will shortly nab the culprits,” he  told  reporters here.

The Minister added that security had been provided to some writers and others who had asked for it. 

 Denying that his advisor, Kempaiah meddled in his affairs as alleged, he said, “There is absolutely no interference from him in my work. We take his suggestions whenever needed. He is only doing his duty.”  

As for the Supreme Court’s recent ruling calling sex with a minor wife , rape, he said he would direct his officers to strictly implement the laws on child marriage. 

The Minister, who was in the city to attend a meeting of police officers of the southern range, claimed there was no law and order problem in the state. 

“We have asked the police officers to emphasise on 30 points, including protection of women and children, and gaining 100 per cent conviction  in cases of dowry deaths and child abuse. We have told them to show zero tolerance against national highway crimes,  book cases under the Goonda Act against rowdies, strictly enforce timings of wine shops, bars and live bands and curb sale of drugs like ganja near schools and colleges. They have also been instructed to intensify night beats, and streamline traffic,” he added. 

Mr Reddy revealed that the government was considering establishing a state police university in Mysuru city and could make an allocation for it in the coming budget. 

“Once the concept note for a police university is ready, the proposal could  be included in the coming budget,” he assured, adding that there were plans to set police public schools in Mangaluru, Gulbarga and Raichur.