Karnataka-based senior journalist, Gauri Lankesh, was shot dead outside her home in Bengaluru last night. The 55-year-old editor and activist had reportedly stepped out of her car and opened the gates when the assailants fired at her seven times. Four bullets hit her, one in the forehead.
Editor of the weekly ‘Gauri Lankesh Patrike,’ Lankesh was fearless and very vocal about her criticism of the right wing and Hindutva politics. She was the elder daughter of P Lankesh, one of the pioneers of a new kind of journalism in Kannada.
Many reports have suggested that her murder was similar to the murder of other free thinkers like renowned scholar MM Kalburgi killed in 2015, Leftist thinker Govind Pansare in 2015, and rationalist and anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013.
Celebrities have since condemned her killing, with some even calling it the death of free speech and democracy.
Dhabolkar , Pansare, Kalburgi , and now Gauri Lankesh . If one kind of people are getting killed which kind of people are the killers .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) September 5, 2017
Extremely dangerous signs whn a country witnesses crusaders activists & journalists who question the govt being murdered. RIP #GauriLankesh
— Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) September 6, 2017
To kill someone for their views is not Democracy, its beginnings of a Banana Republic, where violence speaks louder than words #GauriLankesh
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) September 6, 2017
When “intellectual” becomes an abuse, words are replied with bullets.
RIP #GauriLankesh.
— Shirish Kunder (@ShirishKunder) September 5, 2017
Another liberal, rational voice snuffed out by “unidentified assailants”. Gauri Lankesh RIP. Dabholkar, Kalburgi, Pansare. Who killed them?
— Renuka Shahane (@renukash) September 5, 2017
Please protect fearless journalists too as equally as you do for lawmakers #gaurilankesh ????My condolences and anger towards the governance
— Karunakaran (@actorkaruna) September 5, 2017
HotoN ko see ke dekhiye pachhtaiyega aap/ HungameiN jaag uthate haiN aksar ghutan ke baad #Kaifi Azmi #Gauri Lankesh
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) September 6, 2017
Ailan e haq mein khatrae daar o rasan tto hai/ lekin sawaal ye hai ke daar o rasan ke baad? # Kaifi Azmi # Gauri Lankesh
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) September 6, 2017
When the debate is lost, murder becomes the tool to strangle dissident thought .
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) September 6, 2017
Shameful.. what kind of society are we becoming?? Deepest condolences to the family and hope justice is delivered soon. https://t.co/OTh49Gztz8
— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) September 6, 2017
Feature Image: The Hindu
