Udupi: By releasing a sketch of a person with a tilak on his forehead, among three, in connection with the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, the State government is making a deliberate attempt to malign the Sangh Parivar, Vishwa Hindu Parisad South Central Organising Secretary Gopal said on Sunday.

Talking to reporters in Udupi after a preparatory meeting for the Dharma Sansad in Udupi, Mr. Gopal said that since coming to power, the Congress government has been targeting Sangh Parivar activists. Though the Sangh Parivar activists were blamed following the murder of writer M.M. Kalburgi, there was no proof to substantiate the charge.

The State government was doing the same in connection with the murder of Gauri Lankesh, which the Sangh Parivar outfits have strongly condemned. Mr. Gopal accused the State government of forcing the Special Investigation Team to include the sketch of a person with a tilak among the sketches of suspects released on Saturday. The government was doing it for political reasons, he said.