Lankesh murder probe: Cops come across diary with 'hit-list'

The SIT probing journalist- activist Gauri Lankesh's killing has stumbled upon a diary with a 'hit-list' which has the name of film and theatre personality Girish Karnad's name on top, police said today.

Karnad was among the most vocal critics of hardline Hindutva whose security was beefed up following the killing of Lankesh in September last year.

Lankesh's name figures second among the intended targets in the diary which was recovered last month from the suspects arrested in connection with her killing.

"There is a list of targets prepared by a radical Hindu group. The names of Karnad and Lankesh have been mentioned at slot number 1 and 2. We are investigating further," a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) said.

The entries, he said, have been made in Devnagri script.

The names of politician-litterateur B T Lalitha Naik, pontiff Veerabhadra Channamalla Swamy of Nidumamidi Mutt and rationalist C S Dwarakanath also figure in the list. All of them are bitter critics of the Hindu right.

When reached for comments on the recovery of the diary and his name on the hit-list, Karnad, tersely said, "I have no interest in all this. Thanks."