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

The protest was sparked by recent events in Vijayapura, North Karnataka, where Hindutva groups such as the Sri Rama Sene honoured Parashuram Waghmore, the alleged shooter of Gauri Lankesh, and Manohar Edave, an alleged recruiter for a right-wing crime syndicate. Both men, who had spent six years in prison, were released on bail by a special court in Bengaluru on October 12, 2024.

Waghmore and Edave were part of extremist groups that targeted individuals like Gauri Lankesh, a journalist and activist murdered in 2017, and M M Kalburgi, a scholar murdered in 2015. Both were considered “enemies” of Hindutva ideology due to their progressive and secular beliefs.

Speaking at the protest, Kavita Lankesh expressed her anguish over the honouring of her sister’s alleged killers. “Our family has already endured immense suffering. Honouring the killers is an insult to the memory of Gauri and Professor Kalburgi. The government must constitute special courts to handle such sensitive cases without delay,” she said. She emphasized that delays in the justice system allow perpetrators to walk free and disturb societal peace.

The activists decried the glorification of criminals, pointing out similar instances, such as those accused in the Bilkis Bano case, who were also honoured after serving time. “It is detrimental to civil society to portray individuals who disturb the peace as heroes,” the protestors said in a statement.

Prominent figures at the protest included former minister B T Lalitha Naik, former MLC Mohan Kondajji, activists K S Vimala, K R Subhash, and members of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti. The protestors were later arrested and taken to the Vidhana Soudha police station.