Firearms seized from contract killers sent for forensic test

The firearms recovered from two contract killers allegedly hired by Kannada tabloid editor Ravi Belagere to eliminate his colleague Sunil Heggaravalli have been sent for forensic test, police said.
The weapons have been sent for the test to ascertain the possible involvement of the duo in the killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead at her house here by unidentified assailants on September 5, they said.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case questioned suspected arms supplier Tahir Hussain, who said he had supplied a pistol to sharpshooter Shashidhar Mundewadi from Vijayapura in northKarnataka.
Mundewadi and his aide, whose name has notyet been disclosed, said they were hired by Belagereto kill his colleague Heggaravalli, police said.

Belagere, who brings out 'Hai Bangalore', was arrested yesterday from his house here on charges of hiring a 'supari' (contract) killer from Vijayapura in north Karnataka to kill Heggaravalli.
He is now being questioned.

"At this point, it is difficult to say whetherHussain and Mundewadi had a hand in Gauri Lankesh's murder. The weapon found in the possession of the sharp-shooters has been sent to the forensic science laboratory," said the official.
Gauri Lankesh's death triggered widespread outrage,forcing the government to set up the 21-member SIT, led by Inspector General of Police B K Singh.
While probing the Gauri Lankesh killing case, the arms dealer and two sharp-shooters were caught.