Maha civic polls: Gauri Lankesh murder accused in fray; to run for Jalna corporation

NEW DELHI: Shrikant Pangarkar, an accused successful the 2017 execution of journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, volition contention the January 15 Jalna Municipal Corporation predetermination successful Maharashtra arsenic an autarkic candidate.He is moving from Ward 13, facing opponents from the ruling BJP and respective different parties, portion lawman main curate Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena has not fielded a candidate, quality bureau PTI reported.Incidentally, up of the November 2024 Maharashtra assembly elections, Pangarkar had joined the Shiv Sena. However, pursuing nationalist outcry, Shinde enactment his induction into the enactment connected hold.Earlier, helium served arsenic a subordinate of the Jalna Municipal Council from 2001 to 2006, representing the undivided Shiv Sena.

After being denied a summons successful 2011, helium joined the right-wing Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.In August 2018, Pangarkar was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) successful transportation with the seizure of crude bombs and weapons from assorted parts of the state. He was booked nether the Explosives Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).In the Gauri Lankesh execution case, helium was granted bail by the Karnataka precocious tribunal successful September 2024.

Lankesh, who ran the play "Gauri Lankesh Patrike," a Kannada-language tabloid, was changeable dormant extracurricular her residence successful Bengaluru, Karnataka, connected September 5, 2017. The execution made nationalist headlines, sparking debates implicit alleged “intolerance” successful the state nether the ruling BJP.The Karnataka Police identified and charge-sheeted 18 suspects, arresting 17 of them successful transportation with the case.The proceedings successful the lawsuit began successful May 2022.