BENGALURU: Journalist-turned-activist Gauri Lankesh, 55, was shot dead by unidentified men outside her residence in Rajarajeshwarinagar, West Bengaluru, on Tuesday night.

Preliminary reports say that three men on a motor bike opened at least seven rounds of fire on Gauri when she was unlocking her main door. While three bullets pierced Gauri’s head, neck, and chest, four bullets were sprayed on the walls. She died instantly, police said.

According to neighbours, Gauri was returning from her office when the murder took place. “Usually, she would drive back home late night. At around 8pm today, we heard gun shots and rushed out. For a few minutes, we could not understand what had happened. Then we realised that Gauri had been shot at and saw her lying in a pool of blood near the door,” neighbours said.

The Press Club of India strongly condemned the killing. “A fearless and independent journalist who gave voice to many causes and always stood up for justice has been shot dead in the most brutal manner in order to silence her voice,” the PCI said in a statement.

Lankesh was an outspoken critic of Hindutva politics, and edited a Kannada tabloid Gauri Lankesh Patrike besides owning some other publications.

By arrangement with The Times of India

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2017

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

WITH the situation in KP’s Kurram tribal district already volatile for the past several months, the murderous...
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...