Centre's responsibility to provide security to people in hit list of Gauri murder accused
Siddharth Varadarajan responds to reports on SIT chargesheet
New Delhi: The security of all the 26 people named in the hit-list of the accused arrested in the Gauri Lankesh murder case is the responsibility of the Central Government, senior journalist and the Editor of thewire.in Siddharth Varadarajan told Vartha Bharati.
He was responding to the reports that the charge sheet filed by the Karnataka SIT in Gauri Lankesh murder case has mentioned that the hit list of the accused had his name along with 26 others including journalists and thinkers.
"I have known it for some time as the Delhi Police Special Cell had offered me security, which I had denied since they did not share a proper threat assessment with me," Varadarajan said.
"The police have a responsibility to act against fanatical groups like these, which put out hit lists. The security of all the 26 people on their list is the responsibility of the Central Government, the various state governments and their law enforcement and intelligence agencies. There has been little information or threat assessment sharing by the officers of the Special Cell and my local police station that can allow someone like me to take a decision on what the next course of action should be, " the senior journalist added.
When asked if he will take security, Varadarajan replied: "The police asked whether I would like a PSO, but I said the offer, in the absence of proper background information, is not something I can evaluate and accept".
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CSK's Ayush Mhatre ruled out of remainder of IPL 2026 due to hamstring injury
New Delhi (PTI): Chennai Super Kings batter Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing IPL season due to a hamstring injury, dealing a major blow to the five-time champions.
The franchise said Mhatre, who sustained the injury during CSK’s previous game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18, will require a rehabilitation period of six to 12 weeks.
"Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 due to a left hamstring injury sustained while batting during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.
"Ayush's injury will require a rehabilitation period of 6-12 weeks," CSK announced on its social media on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old, who came in as an impact substitute, was seen in visible discomfort and clutched his hamstring while attempting a run during CSK’s 10-run loss to SRH in Hyderabad.
He required on-field treatment and, although he continued briefly, was dismissed soon after.
"It looks pretty bad, unfortunately. And he's going to be a big, big loss because he's been in really nice touch for us," CSK's batting coach Mike Hussey had said at the post-match press conference.
Mhatre has been CSK's standout batter this season. He lea collecting 201 runs from six matches at a strike-rate of 177.87.
Chennai Super Kings have endured a poor start to the 2026 season, losing four of their six matches to languish in eighth place.
