Gauri Lankesh killing: Days before murder, slain scribe visited this Kerala forest
- Gauri Lankesh had reportedly held a secret meeting with extremists in Kerala
- The naxals had expressed their unhappiness over the way the government was treating the reformed naxals
- The SIT is yet to establish the possible naxal angle in Gauri's murder
FollowJournalist-activist Gauri Lankesh had faced severe opposition from the naxals for her efforts to bring them to the mainstream of the society, during her secret meeting held with them at a forest in Kerala. The extremists had reportedly warned the journalist from going ahead in her mission. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) that has learnt about the development is yet to explore their possible role in Gauri Lankesh murder.
To curb naxal activities widespread in Chikmagaluru, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the state government had formed a panel that had Gauri Lankesh, freedom fighter HS Doreswamy and AK Subbaiah to convince the naxals to shun violence. They would be provided various help under the Karnataka Left Wing Extremism Surrender and Rehabilitation project. Gauri had played a major role in bringing at least seven naxalites to join the mainstream of the society.
However, this did not go well with those who wanted to continue the naxal activities. According to Kannada Prabha, naxals had a secret meeting with Gauri Lankesh in Kerala forest, three months ago. The meeting discussed various packages being extended under the Karnataka Left Wing Extremism Surrender and Rehabilitation project. But the naxalites had reportedly opposed the package as they felt that the government was not treating the reformed naxals, properly.
"The promise of naxal package is just a trap to those who want to quit the guns. Four naxals who recently joined the mainstream of the society including Ramesh and Kanyakumari are still in jail. The promise of the special package has just remained on papers. This is nothing but the government's move to curb naxalism in the state," was how naxals had reportedly told Gauri Lankesh. They had warned her to face dire consequences if she went ahead in her efforts to get naxals to the mainstream of the society.
But unperturbed Gauri Lankesh had tried to convince BG Krishnamurthy, Hosagadde Prabha and Mundagiru Latha in the meeting. She had also reportedly promised them to raise their issue with the government. The meeting which held for half-a-day had witnessed a lot of fireworks, reports Kannada Prabha.
Although the SIT has been tipped-off about this development, it has not been possible for it to establish their role in the murder of Gauri Lankesh.Â
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