Senior journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead at her house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru on September 5, was laid to rest at the T.R. Mill Grounds in Chamarajpet in Bengaluru. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered a Special Investigation Team to be formed to conduct a probe into the killing. Meanwhile, the police are going through CCTv footages to identify the assailants. Protests and condolence meeting were held across the country, condemning the murder.
4.55 p.m.
Amidst chants of "Amar Rahe Amar Rahe, Gauri Lankesh Amar Rahe," body of the slain activist-journalist lowered into the grave. Emotional scenes at the burial ground, where teary-eyed friends and family are singing songs.
Gauri Lankesh laid to rest at the T.R. Mills Ground in Chamarajpet in Bengaluru on September 6. The family said no religious ritual will be performed.
4.45 p.m.
Friends and family say no religious rituals will be performed.
4.40 p.m.
Gun salute as part of police honours performed.
(It was reported earlier as state honours. It has been corrected to police honours after confirmation from the Chief Minister's office)
4.35 p.m.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accompanied by Ministers Ramalinga Reddy, K.R. Ramesh Kumar and Umashree, arrives at the crematorium, lays wreath on the body.
4.30 p.m.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy expected to arrive at the T.R. Mills Grounds in Chamarajpet shortly.
4 p.m.
Body arrives at T.R. Mills Grounds. Huge crowds gather. Besides friends and family, several activists and people she worked with are present. Family members are inconsolable.
3.40 p.m.
State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party B.S. Yeddyurappa condemns the murder . He said the State government should have given security to Gauri Lankesh.
3.15 p.m.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar targets the Siddaramaiah government , says there have been 18-19 political murders, including that of rationalist M.M. Kalburgi, in the State in the last last two and a half years.
3 p.m.
Members of Press Club of Bengaluru submit a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, asking him to constitute a judicial committee to probe the murder. Journalists from Belagavi also submit a memorandum to the State government seeking speedy probe into the murder of journalist, activist and writer Gouri Lankesh.
2.45 p.m.
Cremation to be held at Chamarajpet later in the day.
Hundreds come to pay their last respect to Gauri Lankesh at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
2.30 p.m.
According to one of the two doctors who conducted the post-mortem, Gauri Lankesh's body had three entry and exit points. The three bullets had been fired through the body and they had exited. The doctor on condition of anonymity told The Hindu that she died of excessive bleeding due to shock and hemorrhage. Her vital organs - heart and lungs - had been damaged. Contrary to reports that she had a bullet injury on the temple, the doctor said she had three bullet injuries - two on the chest and one in the abdomen.
2.25 p.m.
Prominent civil rights activists gathered in Delhi to pay homage to Gauri Lankesh and condemn her brutal killing, reports Shinjini Ghosh.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan said the same people who celebrated Gandhi's death are celebrating Gauri Lankesh's death. "If this continues, civilisation will be busted and fascist anarchy will spread,"he added.
While JNU student activist Shehla Rashid termed it a "political assassination," Umar Khalid said, "The bullets not only killed Gauri Lankesh but also the country's democracy."
Author Githa Hariharan said Gauri was killed "because she was a non-conformist."
"Who will decide what is reasonable speech? Will it be the CJI, the DGP or the mafia that killed Gauri Lankesh?"asked senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta.
Journalist Manini Chatterjee called Lankesh "the first journalist martyr in new India." "She was feisty and always on the frontline. She has had to pay a huge price for this. We, in the media should continue the fight," Ms. Chatterjee said.
2.20 p.m.
Reports Smita Gupta: Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi speak to Karnataka Chief Minister Sidaramaiah, ask him to take all steps to bring Gauri Lankesh's killers to book and ensure a safe environment in the State.
2.15 p.m.
Reports Somesh Jha: Stating that there is no role of his government in the death of Gauri Lankesh, Nitin Gadkari, Union Water Resource Minister, said Congress is in power in Karnataka and they should conduct thorough investigation into the case.
2 p.m
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays tribute to Gauri Lankesh at Samsa amphitheatre in Ravindra Kalakshetra.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that there are prima facie similarities with the Kalaburgi murder, but a link is yet to be established with certainty.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pays tribute to Gauri Lankesh at Ravindra Kalakshetra on September 6.
1.45 p.m.
Reports Vijaita Singh: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh directs Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to seek a report from Karnataka Chief Secretary on Gauri Lankesh's murder.
1.30 p.m.
Thousands of people line up to pay homage to Gauri Lankesh at Samsa amphitheatre in Ravindra Kalakshetra, where the body has been kept for viewing.
1.15 p.m.
According to the government, slain journalist Gauri Lankesh will be cremated will full State honours. Body reaches Ravindra Kalakshetra.
1 p.m.
Post-mortem ends. According to Gauri Lankesh's brother Indrajit Lankesh, three bullets were recovered from her body. “The only thing that gives us solace is that she didn't suffer. One bullet punctured her heart and she died immediately,” he said.
The body will be kept in Ravindra Kalakshetra for viewing.
It's really frightening for thinkers like us
12.45 p.m.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, after meeting with Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and senior police officials, told reporters that a Special Investigation Team headed by an IG-level officer would be constituted to exclusively investigate the murder of Gauri Lankesh.
While stating that it was too early to conclude who the attackers could be, he said he was confident that the case would be solved soon and assailants apprehended.
12.30 p.m.
Protests continue across the country.
Reports S. Murali: Scribes led by Andhra Pradesh Union of Woking Journalists State General Secretary I.V. Subba Rao staged a dharna in Ongole. The journalists vowed to carry on a relentless struggle demanding the arrest of the assailants.
Protest against killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh held in Delhi on September 6.
12.15 p.m.
Amnesty International India, All India Democratic Women's Association have also reacted to the killing. In a statement, Asmita Basu, Programmes Director at Amnesty International India, said, “The killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh raises alarms about the state of Freedom of Expression in the country. Gauri Lankesh was never afraid of speaking truth. Her assassination must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.”
AIDWA in its statement strongly condemned the 'heinous and cold blooded murder' of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Such a serious crime being committed in the capital city of Bengaluru is alarming and outrageous. It underscores the complete lack of safety in homes and on the streets of a city which boasts of a significant presence of women professionals. The murder must be investigated effectively and with urgency, so that the culprits are caught and punished in an exemplary manner.
12 p.m.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah calls an emergency meeting of police officials at the Secretariat.
Editors Guild of India issues a statement on the killing.
11.45 a.m.
Protest have been planned across the country. At Chennai, journalists came out on the streets to condemn the killing.
Protest by journalists in Chennai against the killing of Gauri Lankesh.
Journalists also staged a demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram. The protest was organised jointly by Kerala Union of Working Journalists and the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club.
A protest march was also held in Shivamogga city by the Shivamogga District Working Journalists Association. Addressing the protest meet, social activist Kadidal Shamanna termed the killing as an effort by reactionary forces to curb Freedom of Expression and the Right to Dissent.
Members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike held a candle light vigil early on Wednesday morning at Kittur Chennamma Circle in Hubballi condemning the murder.
Protest meetings will also be held at Hyderabad, New Delhi, Gujarat, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Lucknow and other parts of the country today.
11.30 a.m.
Reactions and condolences pour in from all quarters. G. Rajashekhar, writer and literary critic, said “I can only describe her as an ideal journalist. She was bold. She was determined and ready to face any consequence. I think she was facing six to seven cases in the courts. She had told me once that she was getting hate mails. She knew she had a lot of enemies ,” he said.
Stating that efforts are being made to foster a culture of silence, noted writer Vaidehi, said, “By killing someone you cannot silence anyone. If one goes, ten will take their place. The extremists should realise this.”
11.15 a.m.
Protest against the killing of the journalist begins across the State. Hundreds gather at the Town Hall in Bengaluru to condemn the killing. Meanwhile, members of Mysuru District Journalists Association staged a demonstration in Mysuru to protest against the killing of the senior journalist. The association urged the State government to immediately nab the culprits behind the brutal killing.
Members of Mysuru District Journalists Association stage a demonstration in Mysuru on Wednesday to protest against the killing of Gauri Lankesh.
Reacting to the killing, Smriti Irani, Union Minister of Textiles; and Information and Broadcasting, has said: "Condemn killing of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh. Hope speedy investigation is conducted and justice delivered. Condolences to the family."
11 a.m.
The police are also verifying others CCTV footages from the area and those installed on the stretch from Gauri Lankesh's office to her residence to ascertain whether the assailants followed her.
10:45 a.m.
According to the Bengaluru City police, CCTV footage shows a man wearing a helmet following her towards her residence. He opened fire at her at close range and escaped with his associates, who were waiting outside the house on a bike.
10:30 a.m.
Post-mortem is underway on the body of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh at Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru. The procedure may take another one and a half hours, as one bullet is yet to be retrieved. Doctors says an X-ray will be needed. According to Indrajit Lankesh, brother of Gauri Lankesh, her eyes have been donated.
