Odisha journalists, activists stage protest against murder of Gauri Lankesh

Bhubaneswar: Condemning the brutal killing of senior Kannada journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh, media persons, writers and social activists in Odisha today took out a protest march demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

Senior journalists Prafulla Das, Rabi Das, Kedar Mishra, Satya Prakash Naik and others participated in the protest march in the Odisha capital. Expressing their shock and anger over the killing of Gauri, they said the murder is a yet another attempt to silence the media. It is dangerous for democracy and free voice.

“She (Gauri Lankesh) was a renowned journalist and was known for her anti-establishment, pro-poor and pro-Dalit stand. We all should be united now and exemplary punishment should be given to the accused,” said Rabi Das.

Echoing the same, another senior journalist Prafulla Das said: “Time has arrived for the journalists, writers and free thinkers across the country to stand united and fight for justice.”

Similarly, the brutal murder of Lankesh has evoked widespread protests and condemnation across the country.

Lankesh, a prominent Left thinker and a staunch critic of Hindutva politics, was shot dead from a close range at her house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar (in the suburbs) in Bengaluru around 8 p.m. yesterday.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that a Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the killing.