Journalist Gauri Lankesh, who led crusade against communalism, shot dead

coastaldigest.com news network
September 5, 2017

Bengaluru, Sept 5: Veteran journalist and peace activist Gauri Lankesh (55) who led a crusade against saffron extremists and communalism in Karnataka for decades was on Tuesday shot dead by unidentified gunmen near her residence in Bengaluru.

The incident took place within a few days after the second anniversary of the assassination of M M Kalburgi, a rationalist and former vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi, who also had earned the wrath of Hindutva extremists through his writings. The manner in which Gauri was killed was eerily similar to the way in which Kalburgi was killed.

According to reports, at around 7: 00 pm, the gunmen shot at Gauri and wounded her fatally before escaping from the scene.  Police said that Gauri was getting out of her car to open the gate of her house, when assailants shot her. The shots penetrated her chest and she was killed on the spot, reports said.

Gauri was the daughter of revolutionary journalist P Lankesh. She was a veteran editor and columnist in both Kannada and English, and was a vocal critic of the right wing.

Last year, she was convicted of criminal defamation in two cases by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court in Hubballi on Monday. Dharwad BJP MP Prahallad Joshi and BJP leader Umesh Dhushi had filed individual defamation cases against Lankesh in objection to a report on BJP leaders she had published in her periodical on January 23, 2008.

According to the police, Gauri left her office - Gauri Lankesh Patrike - at Gandhi Bazar around 7 pm. She reached her home around 7.45 pm.

As she was about to open the main door, three assailants called her. As she stepped out, they pumped four bullets from point-blank range. The bullets pierced her abdomen and chest.

Neighbours rushed out on hearing gunshots and Gauri's screams and called an ambulance.

"The house is located in a secluded area near Ideal Homes in Rajarajeshwarinagar. There was no immediate help after the attack," said Shivasundar, Gauri's close aide.

Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said it is yet to be ascertained whether the assailants were following Gauri or waiting near her residence.

"Four cartridges have been found at the spot. There are two CCTV cameras at the house and the footage will be examined after forensic officials inspect the spot. Three teams have been formed to nab the assailants, including one headed by joint commissioner (crime). We are also checking other CCTV cameras in the area," Kumar said.

The police said that the modus operandi in Gauri's murder is similar to that of Kalburgi case.

Gauri is the eldest daughter of revolutionary Kannada journalist and thinker P Lankesh. Gauri was known for her writings against the RSS and the BJP.

She had spearheaded several movements in the state and was instrumental in facilitating the surrender of Maoists who wanted to return to the mainstream.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Soon after the police submit a preliminary report, we will determine the nature of the probe.”

The chief minister clarified that Gauri had not sought police protection and that there were no intelligence reports indicating a threat to her life.

After visiting the spot, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, "She (Gauri) was staying alone and her mother was with her sister Kavitha in Uttarahalli. The officials told me that she met DGP R K Dutta three times. However, she never shared any information about a threat to her life. In fact, she called me on Saturday and said that she would meet on Monday. But she did not turn up,'' Reddy said.

The body was shifted to the Victoria Hospital for postmortem. A family member said the funeral would be held on Wednesday.

Comments

ayman kudroli
 - 
Tuesday, 5 Sep 2017

wipe out namardonki fouj club of bachelors what  akbaruddin owaisi said once its true ban rss terrorist org

Habeeb Puttur
 - 
Tuesday, 5 Sep 2017

Definately behind this murder KP Bhat and Raghu Swamy... arrest them soon...just check last week's gauri lankesh pathrike main page, what she wrote....and about whom...

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News Network
March 14,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 14: Infosys carried out evacuation at one of its satellite offices here on Friday after an employee came in contact with a suspected case of COVID-19, according to the company.

"We have taken a decision to evacuate one of our satellite buildings in Bengaluru as a precautionary measure, as one of our employees had been in contact with an individual with suspected COVID-19," the company said in its statement.

"Employees have been directed to work from home, and there is no impact on our client deliverables as a result of this temporary evacuation," it added.

On the other hand, Google also informed media on Friday that an employee at its Bengaluru office has tested positive for the COVID-19 and the firm has directed all its employees in that office to work from home as a precautionary measure.

"We can confirm that an employee from our Bangalore office has been diagnosed with COVID-19. They were in one of our Bangalore offices for a few hours before developing any symptoms. The employee has been on quarantine since then," Google had said in a statement. The search engine giant has asked colleagues who were in close contact with the employee to quarantine themselves and monitor their health.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic.

Coronavirus, which originated in the Wuhan city of China, has so far spread to more than 100 countries infecting over 1,20,000 people. India has reported two deaths and 82 confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the coronavirus outbreak a 'pandemic' and expressed deep concern.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 15,2020

Mangaluru, May 15: In a shocking development, five residents of Udupi district, who recently came from United Arab Emirates today tested positive for covid-19.

As many as 49 passengers among over 175 repatriates who were brought from Dubai to Mangaluru International Airport on May 12 were from Udupi district.

Hence they were quarantined in Udupi district and their throat swabs were sent for testing on the same day. Today, five of them obtained positive report. They were today shifted to TMA Pai covid-hospital from their hotel rooms.

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News Network
January 30,2020

New Delhi, Jan 30: Tension spiralled in Jamia Nagar on Thursday after a man fired a pistol at a group of anti-CAA protesters, injuring a Jamia Millia Islamia student before walking away while waving the firearm above his head and shouting "Yeh lo aazadi" amid heavy police presence in the area.

Massive protests erupted in the area after the incident with hundreds of agitated people gathering near the university, breaking barricades and clashing with police personnel.

The man, who identified himself as "Rambhakt Gopal", was subsequently overpowered by police and detained. He was taken into custody and was being interrogated, police said.

The entire drama, which triggered panic in the area, was captured by television cameras that showed the man in light coloured pants and a dark jacket, walking away on an empty road barricaded by police, turning around and shouting at the protesters in Hindi, "Here, take this freedom."

The gunman went live on Facebook before the brandishing the gun. Police said they were verifying whether it is his real name.

Before the attack, the man also put out messages on Facebook stating "Shaheen Bhag Khel Khatam" (Run Shaheen, the game is over). Another message stated, "Please wrap me in saffron in my last journey with slogans of Jai Shri Ram". His Facebook profile was deleted after screenshots of his posts were circulated widely on social media platforms.

Several students recapped how their peaceful march on Gandhi's death anniversary became violent.

"We were moving towards the Holy Family Hospital where the police had raised barricades. Suddenly, a gun-wielding man came out and opened fire. One bullet hit my friend's hand," Aamna Asif, a student of economics at the university, told PTI.

She said her friend, Shadab Farooq, a mass communication student, was trying to calm the attacker but he shot at him injuring his left hand.

Farooq, who belongs to Kashmir, was taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre.

Ragibh Naushad, an LLB student at the university, said, "The Jamia Coordination Committee organised a march to pay homage to Gandhi ji on his death anniversary. It started at 12 noon from Gate number 7, but police denied the permission and stopped the march near the Holy Family hospital.

"A man named Gopal, came there and started brandishing a weapon and later shot a round. He was also chanting pro-CAA slogans."

The incident led to panic in the area.

Khalid Hassan, a JMI alumnus, said initially many were not sure whether it was a gunshot or a tyre burst.

There was heavy police and media presence when the incident took place.

The students were heading from Jamia to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat. The march was stopped at the Holy Family Hospital near the university.

Chinmoy Biswal, DCP (southeast), said the students wanted to take out a march from Jamia to Rajghat but were denied permission.

"They were being repeatedly told that the protest should be carried out peacefully. We had barricaded the road just before the Holy Family hospital. Meanwhile, a person was seen in the crowd who waved something which appeared to be a weapon."

"We have detained him and are interrogating him. One person has also been injured," Biswal said.

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