Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh shot dead in Bengaluru

Gauri Lankesh was the daughter of writer and journalist P Lankesh.

Bengaluru: Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was on Tuesday shot dead at her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru.

She edited Kannada tabloid 'Lankesh Patrike' besides owning some other publications.

Gauri, aged 55, had returned home in her car and was opening the gate when motorcycle-borne assailants fired at her indiscriminately with two bullets hitting her in the chest and one on her forehead. She died instantaneously.

Four bullets hit the compound wall of her building.

Karnataka police chief RK Dutta said that Gauri had not voiced any apprehension about any threat to her life during a couple of meetings he had with her.

Asked about who could be the possible suspects in the killing, the officer refused to hazard any guess, saying "let the investigation proceed first," PTI reported.

On the other hand, Bangalore Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said, "We found Gauri lying in a pool of blood, found four empty cartridges from the scene of offence. Out of four, how many entered her body, only post-mortem report will tell," as per ANI.

In 2016, Gauri was convicted of criminal defamation by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Court in Hubballi. 

A penalty of Rs 10,000 was also imposed on her. She had received bail the same day.

A defamation case was filed by BJP MP Prahlad Joshi over a report published in Gauri's tabloid against some BJP leaders.

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that he was shocked to learn about the murder and had directed the police to carry out a thorough investigation.

On the other hand, Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy condemned the incident, calling it unfortunate.

Gauri was the daughter of writer and journalist P Lankesh. 

Her siblings - Kavitha and Indrajit Lankesh - are film and theatre personalities.

(With Agency inputs)