Two men - Amit Baddi and Ganesh Miskin - who are being tried for the murders of Gauri Lankesh and MM Kalburgi, were felicitated in their hometown Hubballi on Sunday, February 2.
The two Hindutva activists were felicitated by their family members and supporters when they arrived in Hubballi, Kannada daily Vijaya Karnataka reported. Ash gourds were burst, and both were garlanded and draped with shawls. Their supporters also burst crackers and raised slogans. Baddi and Miskin later visited the Siddharoodha Matha and Moorusavira Matha.
In some parts of Hubballi, banners welcoming Baddi and Miskin as “Hindu tigers” were put up. One such poster was put up near the Tulaja Bhavani temple in the city, but temple officials later removed it, Kannada daily Vartha Bharathi reported.
In October 2024, two other accused in Gauri Lankesh’s murder were felicitated in their hometown Vijayapura when they were released on bail.
Activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead on September 5, 2017, by two men who were lying in wait for her at her house in Bengaluru. Ganesh Miskin is facing charges for driving Parashuram Waghmore to Gauri’s house, where he allegedly shot her.
Writer and former Vice Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, MM Kalburgi was shot dead at his house in Dharwad on August 30, 2015, by two unknown gunmen.
Four men who are being tried for Gauri’s murder, are also being tried for Kalburgi’s murder. This includes the alleged mastermind of Gauri’s murder Amol Kale, Amit Baddi, Ganesh Miskin and Vasudeo Suryawanshi.
Amit Baddi surveilled Gauri and acted as courier for the murder weapon, Ganesh Miskin was the man who drove Parashuram Waghmore to Gauri’s house where he shot her, and Vasudev Suryawanshi stole the motorbike which Miskin and Waghmore used.
