Gauri Lankesh murder case: accused Naveen refused narco test in Gujarat
BENGALURU: K T Naveen Kumar, the only arrested accused in the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh case, has strongly refused to undergo a narco-analysis test after agreeing to it earlier.
According to reports, when Naveen, who is believed to have links with Hindutva outfits, was taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Gujarat, threatened to commit suicide if he was subjected to the test. Now, the SIT will be bringing him back without subjecting him to the test.
Naveen was arrested by the SIT in March. As he was not co-operating with the investigations, the SIT had sought permission to subject him to a narco-analysis. It even sought his consent in the presence of a magistrate, as it is mandatory. Accordingly, Kumar told the court that he had no issues if the test did not impact his health. The court had then ordered the test following which the SIT arranged for it at the FSL in Gujarat. Kumar was taken into custody on April 14 and was taken to the FSL.
Kumar was supposed to undergo the test on Friday. But when the FSL staff asked him to sign the documents giving his consent to undergo the test, he created high drama and started shouting that he had been forced to give his consent earlier by the SIT. He even threatened to commit suicide.
When the accused said “police have brought him for the narco test without his content”, the FSL staff said “It is inappropriate to subject him for the test without his content. In case we conduct his test also, it does not yield true result.”
With no other go, the SIT team is bringing him back to the city.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
VHP warns of statewide stir in Karnataka against move to ease cattle transport law
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, accusing the state government of weakening a law that has deterred illegal cattle transport.
The organisation's Go Raksha Wing, Karnataka South, has also announced district-level protests on December 8.
According to officials, the existing law mandates a bank guarantee for securing the release of vehicles seized for alleged illegal cattle transportation.
On December 4, the state Cabinet proposed an amendment enabling the release of such vehicles on an indemnity bond instead.
Addressing reporters in Udupi, VHP leader and Prantha Goraksha Pramukh Sunil K R, said the government's move amounted to "sympathy for cattle lifters" and claimed that it was part of broader actions "targeting Hindus".
He argued that the law in its current form is stringent and has played a crucial role in reducing incidents of illegal cattle transport and theft.
Under the Act, vehicles involved in offences can be surrendered and, upon conviction, permanently seized by authorities. "Diluting these provisions will embolden offenders," Sunil said.
The VHP leader warned that easing the process of vehicle release would not only encourage violators but also result in rising cruelty against cattle.
Sunil further claimed that the strict enforcement of the 2020 law had brought down cases of cattle-related offences significantly. Rolling back these provisions, he said, could reverse those gains and would lead to an increase in illegal transport.
He reiterated that the government must reconsider its decision and preserve the integrity of the existing law.
