Gauri Lankesh laid to rest with state honours

Gauri Lankesh’s family and friends have demanded an investigation of the veteran journalist’s murder case by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday.

The veteran journalist's brother Indrajit Lankesh said, “The case should be handed over to the CBI. The assailants should be brought to the book.”

Unidentified gunmen opened fired at Gauri — an editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrika, a magazine described as an ‘anti-establishment’ publication — at her residence in Rajarajeshwari Naga on Tuesday late evening. Bengaluru police said that the gunmen pumped in four bullets into her body which caused her death.

Indrajit further added, “I don’t know how to react. Her body was found lying on the Verandah. She was shot from close range and four bullet cartridges were found near her body.”

Here are live updates

#05:10 

Gauri Lankesh laid to rest with state honnours

#02:20

Friends and family members gather near mortal remains of slain journalist Gauri Lankesh at Bengaluru's Ravindra Kala Kshethra.

#01:35

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah pays last respect to the Gauri Lankesh's mortal remains at Ravindra Kalakshethra. 

#01:16 pm

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed Home Secretary seek report on Gauri Lankesh murder from Karnataka Government.

#12:30 pm

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said she met me recently but never spoke about threats.

#12:30 pm

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah instructs police to provide protection to activists propagating progressive thoughts after Gauri Lankesh's murder.

#12:26 pm 

A special investigation team (SIT) headed by an inspector general (IG) rank officer formed exclusively to probe Gauri Lankesh murder case. 

#12:25

 Bangalore University students boycott clasees in protest against Gauri Lankesh murder.

#12:02 pm

Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Anybody who speaks against ideology of BJP-RSS is pressured, beaten, attacked and even killed."

#12:01 pm

 Rahul Gandhi said, “Spoke to CM (of Karnataka) & mentioned that people who did this must be caught & punished”

#12:00 pm

 Editor's Guild of India demands Karnataka Govt to act with alacrity to bring culprits to justice apart from instituting judicial probe.

#11:59 am

 Editor's Guild of India terms Gauri Lankesh's killing ominous portent for dissent in democracy and assault on freedom of the press. 

Also Read: Prominent journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder triggers political blame game in Karnataka

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah told the media that three special investigation team have been constituted to probe the killing.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar told media that Lankesh did not complain of any threats.

"She didn't complain of anything," Kumar told journalists on Tuesday night. "If she anywhere expressed about threats, it will be thoroughly investigated."

Bengaluru police said the cops have retrieved CCTV footages from Lankesh's residence and from the two cameras near her house.

“We have got some good leads from Gaur’s phone,” a senior official said.

The Karnataka government has directed the state police to get in touch with Maharashtra Police investigating rationalist Narendra Dabholkar’s case.