Protest held in Bengaluru over honouring alleged killers of journalist Gauri Lankesh, scholar MM Kalburgi by Right-wing groups

The protestation was sparked by caller events successful Vijayapura, North Karnataka, wherever Hindutva groups specified arsenic the Sri Rama Sene honoured Parashuram Waghmore, the alleged shooter of Gauri Lankesh, and Manohar Edave, an alleged recruiter for a right-wing transgression syndicate. Both men, who had spent six years successful prison, were released connected bail by a peculiar tribunal successful Bengaluru connected October 12, 2024.

Waghmore and Edave were portion of extremist groups that targeted individuals similar Gauri Lankesh, a writer and activistic murdered successful 2017, and M M Kalburgi, a student murdered successful 2015. Both were considered “enemies” of Hindutva ideology owed to their progressive and secular beliefs.

Speaking astatine the protest, Kavita Lankesh expressed her anguish implicit the honouring of her sister’s alleged killers. “Our household has already endured immense suffering. Honouring the killers is an insult to the representation of Gauri and Professor Kalburgi. The authorities indispensable represent peculiar courts to grip specified delicate cases without delay,” she said. She emphasized that delays successful the justness strategy let perpetrators to locomotion escaped and disturb societal peace.

The activists decried the glorification of criminals, pointing retired akin instances, specified arsenic those accused successful the Bilkis Bano case, who were besides honoured aft serving time. “It is detrimental to civilian nine to represent individuals who disturb the bid arsenic heroes,” the protestors said successful a statement.

Prominent figures astatine the protestation included erstwhile curate B T Lalitha Naik, erstwhile MLC Mohan Kondajji, activists K S Vimala, K R Subhash, and members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. The protestors were aboriginal arrested and taken to the Vidhana Soudha constabulary station.