Gunmen shoot, kill journalist inside her home in Bengaluru
BENGALURU: Ga uri Lanke sh, a senior Kannada journalist known for her criticism of Hindu extremism, was shot dead at her home on Tuesday evening.
According to police, at least three suspects were involved and Lankesh was found dead on her veranda ha round 8 pm with bullet wounds to her head and chest.
Lanke sh ,55, was the daughter offamouspoet-turned-journalist P Lankesh.
She was the editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike, writing often against Sangh organisations and communal violence in the country.
“This is not the death of a journalist, but the death of democracy and constitutional values. She had raised her voice against communal violence with us and we know that all our lives are in danger. But we did not expect this ,” said KL Ashok of the Karna takabasedKo mu So u hard aVe dike (Communal Harmony Forum), who worked with Lankesh.
Ashok said there “was no doubt” that Lank es h’ s killing was part of a larger conspiracy to kill rationalist ideas.
“Na rend ra Dab holk ar, Gov ind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and now Gauri Lankesh. They were all rationalist thinkers, and that is why they have been murdered,” he added. In 2015, Left ideologue and Kannada author Prof MM Kalb urgiw ass hot de adina similar manner by an unidentified gunman at the doorstep of his home. Bengaluru deputy commissioner of police M NA nu che th said, “It is too early to comment on the issue, we can not reveal any further details at the moment.”
People began gathering outside her residence as news of her murder spread and protests started at the Corporation Circle in the heart of Bengaluru and near her home.
In November, Lankesh was convicted by a court for defaming two BJP leaders for articles published in her periodical in 2008. She was sentenced to six months in jail and asked to pay ₹10,000 penalty.
Shortly after the murder, K arnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed shock in posts on Twitter: “In fact, this is an assassination on democracy. In her passing, K ar nat aka has lost a strong progressive voice, and I have lost a friend”.
“The truth will never be silenced. Gauri lives on in our hearts. My condolences &love to her family. The culprits have to be punished,” said Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi.