TN journalist bodies, political parties condemn journo's

Chennai :  Journalist bodies and political parties here today condemned the killing of senior Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh and expressed concern over the incident. Political leaders, including AIADMK (Amma) deputy chief T T V Dhinakaran, expressed “shock” and concern over the killing of Gauri Lankesh last night.

“This incident has shocked the entire country and has once against raised questions on safety of journalists in India,” the Chennai Press Club said. Gauri (55) was known for her fearless attitude, outspoken views and commitment to secular values, a statement from press club joint secretary Bharathitamizhan said.

“The manner in which Gauri Lankesh was killed shows that it was a planned execution. Chennai Press Club urges the Government of Karnataka to arrest those who are responsible for this murder,” the statement said. Madras Union of Journalists also strongly condemned the killing and wanted the assailants to be arrested at the earliest.

Meanwhile, journalists held a protest here against the incident. They held placards that read “murder of democracy” and “tomorrow it could be one of us”. Meanwhile, Dhinakran said the “cold-blooded murder” of Lankesh was “shocking”. “The cold-blooded murder of senior woman journalist-writer Gauri Lankesh was quite shocking,” Dhinakaran said in a tweet.

“It was a brutal assault on the freedom of expression. The culprits should be brought to book at the earliest,” the AIADMK leader said in another tweet. CPI state unit secretary R Mutharasan and TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar also expressed concern over the killing.

Gauri, a senior journalist and activist known for her progressive and fearless writing, was shot dead at close range by unknown assailants at her home in Bengaluru yesterday. The 55 year-old journalist 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 forehead.