Senior Journalist Gauri Lankesh Shot Dead at Bengaluru Residence

Activist and journalist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants outside her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar on Tuesday evening.

MN Anucheth, deputy commissioner of police, west confirmed the death to The Quint. “The attack has taken place between 8 pm and 8:30 pm. Our teams are on the spot. We can't confirm the number of attackers at this moment. Investigation is on,” he said.

According to The News Minute, the assailants allegedly knocked on the door of her residence, and shot her as soon as she opened the door. The shots penetrated her chest and she was killed on the spot, reports said.

Who is Gauri Lankesh?

In 2016, Gauri Lankesh was convicted on defamation for writing an article claiming three BJP leaders had duped a jeweller of Rs 1 lakh.

Dharwad BJP MP Prahallad Joshi and BJP leader Umesh Dhushi had filed individual defamation cases against Lankesh in objection to the report which was published in her periodical ‘Gauri Lankesh Patrike' on 23 January 2008.

According to thewire.in, she was convicted by a judicial magistrate in Hubbali, where she was given a six-month sentence, along with a fine. She however, received bail the same day, and was preparing to appeal at a sessions court.

Gauri is the daughter of journalist P Lankesh. She has been a vocal critic of the right-wing parties in Karnataka. She wrote columns for various newspapers in Karnataka.

The manner in which Gauri was killed was eerily similar to the way in which rationalist MM Kalburgi was killed two years ago.

The former Vice Chancellor of Kannada University, Hampi, known for his outspoken criticism of the right wing, had also been shot when he opened the door of his residence to unknown persons.

(With inputs from The News Minute)