Gauri Lankesh murder: Don’t be shocked, go after killers, time for action

On Tuesday evening, noted journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh was murdered in Bengaluru. Her murder sent shockwaves across the country.

Bengaluru, Sep 6: Death, especially if it is unnatural, more so when it is ghastly and done with great impunity, is most likely to shock us all. On Tuesday evening, when the news of horrific murder of Bengaluru-based journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh spread like a wildfire, the common reaction was that of "shock".

The noted journalist was shot dead by unidentified miscreants at the entrance of her house in Bengaluru's Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

The killing of the 55-year-old firebrand editor, who was known for her anti-establishment stand and taking on the might of right-wing groups, was immediately termed as the murder of democracy and an attempt to silence voices of dissent.

Like all the anguished souls, the chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah too took to Twitter to express his grief.

Absolutely shocked to learn about the murder of renowned journalist Gauri Lankesh. I have no words to condemn this heinous crime.

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 5, 2017

In fact, this is an assassination on democracy. In her passing, Karnataka has lost a strong progressive voice, and I have lost a friend.

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 5, 2017

The CM is right when he termed the murder of Lankesh as a "heinous crime" and an "assassination of democracy". Like any other mortal, Siddaramaiah too was shocked and as a friend of the slain journalist, the CM too mourned her horrific death.

However, in his tweets, as the head of the state where the brutal incident has taken place, Siddaramaiah failed to assure people of Karnataka that his government would take all necessary steps to nab the culprits.

As the head of Karnataka, otherwise a peaceful state, it is the duty of the CM to first check crimes of such blatant nature. By just expressing shock and anguish will not help to control murders.

In fact, just two years ago, on August 30, 2015, two unidentified assailants entered the house of scholar and rationalist MM Kalburgi in Dharwad, around 385 km from Bengaluru, and shot him dead, an incident eerily similar to Lankesh's murder.

Even after the passage of two years, family and friends of Kalburgi are still waiting to get justice as the killers of the scholar are moving scot-free. Both Kalburgi and Lankesh were known for their progressive thinking and speaking the truth in spite of all threats they faced when they were alive.

Not only the Siddaramaiah government has failed to stop murders of people who spoke truth to power, espoused the cause of marginalised people and spoke against religious bigotry, but somehow has given the impression that criminal elements of society could carry out their nefarious activities without any fear of law.

That is why the tweets of the CM were criticised by many, who felt that the state government failed to provide security to people.

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's tweets, journalist and author Saikat Datta pointed out what the government should immediately do, "Go after the killers."

Don't be shocked. Go after the killers.
Bring them to book.
Act.
We don't need words.
We need action. #GauriLankesh https://t.co/qMKmeFnjsj

— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) September 5, 2017

After posting his tweets, the CM spoke to journalists in Bengaluru and again expressed his "shock".

"Her death is deeply shocking. She fought against superstition, communalism and fundamentalism. She was deeply involved in social change. I have instructed the police to take every effort to immediately apprehend the perpetrators," said Siddaramaiah.

"There was no intel prior to the attack. Even Gauri Lankesh hadn't sought police protection," the CM added. The CM informed that three police teams have been formed to investigate and nab the culprits.

We hope, this time, Siddaramaiah means business and nab the killers of Lankesh, unlike in the case of Kalburgi.

OneIndia News