Writers, thinkers protest Gauri's murder

Senior Kannada writers and progressive thinkers gathered in front of Town Hall in Bengaluru on Wednesday to condemn journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh’s killing, with posters saying “Naanu Gauri” (I Am also Gauri). Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy led the protest.

Journalists took out a march from Press Club to the Vidhana Soudha and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking immediate action to bring the culprits to book.

Writer Chandrashekar Patil said, “I am deeply pained at the loss of Gauri, a close friend of mine. I hope the murders of Gauri and Prof M M Kalburgi lead to a large people’s movement against fascist forces.”

A few college students also protested against the murder.

Meanwhile, hundreds gathered at Samasa Open Air Theatre at Ravindra Kalakshetra to pay tribute to Gauri.

Political leaders, writers, film actors, activists, family, public and journalists paid their homage to Gauri.

Freedom fighter Doreswamy paid the homage to Gauri and said progressive thinkers are targeted in the state.

“It is an unfortunate incident. The government should act fast and arrest the culprits soon. It is the government’s responsibility to protect progressive thinkers.”

Gauri was laid to rest at the T R Mill Grounds in Chamarajpet on Wednesday evening.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues attended the funeral.

The state police gave a funeral guard of honour and a gun salute.

Indrajit Lankesh said, “We will not follow any religious customs for Gauri’s last rites, she was a rationalist and we do not want to go against her ideologies.”