Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh on Tuesday was shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The news was confirmed by city police commissioner. She was the editor of Lankesh Patrike, a weekly Kannada magazine. She had been a staunch critic of Hindutva politics.
According to reports, Lankesh succumbed to multiple bullet wounds on her body. Reflecting on the incident, DCP (West) MN Anucheth said her body was found on the veranda of her house.
Last year, she was held guilty in a defamation case filed by MP Prahlad Joshi, who had objected to a report against BJP leaders.
Lankesh was the daughter of famous poet-turned-journalist P Lankesh, who began Lankesh Patrike.
A host of journalists have strongly condemned the murder of the prominent journalist on social media.
Condemning the “heinous crime”, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he was shocked to learn of the murder of the renowned journalist. “Absolutely shocked to learn about the murder of renowned journalist Gauri Lankesh. I have no words to condemn this heinous crime,” he tweeted.
“In fact, this is an assassination on democracy. In her passing, Karnataka has lost a strong progressive voice, and I have lost a friend,” the Chief Minister added.
