Earlier this evening, senior journalist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru.
#FLASH: Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh shot dead at her residence in Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar. More details awaited.
— ANI (@ANI) September 5, 2017
Unfortunate death of Lankesh triggered speculations and most media persons were quick to blame the murder on right wing and in some cases, the BJP.
Nothing like quoting a 2016 tweet out of context to set the bar high for nastiness.
BJP IT Cell head openly threatening journalists, including Lankesh who was shot dead today. https://t.co/VRkPQYyvGU
— Kakul (@kakulprasher) September 5, 2017
“Other Journos take note.” pic.twitter.com/yHx7LnojOD
— Meghnad ?? ? (@Memeghnad) September 5, 2017
Some didn’t even lose the opportunity to plug their book.
My friend Gauri Lankesh who recently published the kannada edition of Gujarat Files shot dead. Cowards, bigots. You disgusting people
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) September 5, 2017
While the ones who are actually good with words implied.
Dhabolkar , Pansare, Kalburgi , and now Gauri Lankesh . If one kind of people are getting killed which kind of people are the killers .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) September 5, 2017
Of course, those who have to have an opinion in everything also had a say.
Investigating Gauri Lankesh’s assassination can expose Sangh terror networks like Abhinav Bharat. Sadly, no agency will conduct it.
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) September 5, 2017
They even had a suspect in mind.
Don’t know how to process this. Still coming to terms with the fact that #GauriLankesh has been assassinated. Most likely by Abhinav Bharat.
— Shehla Rashid (@Shehla_Rashid) September 5, 2017
Whereas some had already decided who killed her.
What happened to #GauriLankesh is not murder. It is terrorism. If u speak against the Sangh .. this will be your fate .
— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) September 5, 2017
Brother in law of nation’s brother in law has impeccable intelligence… erm.. inputs.
And then, journalist turned politician also termed that it is not a “regular murder”
It is shocking… Gauri Lankesh murder is not a routine murder. She was a fierce critic of extreme right wing.
— ashutosh (@ashutosh83B) September 5, 2017
Wonder what is an extra ordinary murder.
Some even forgot that Karnataka is not BJP ruled state.
#GauriLankesh #BrokenPromises pic.twitter.com/vBnMLuVaOb
— Saikat Datta (@saikatd) September 5, 2017
And the fearmongers weren’t far behind.
Today she was shot dead. Repeat, could happen to any of us. This is what #NewIndia is https://t.co/xl3LkyVpq9
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) September 5, 2017
Psst.. seems like #NewIndia was a hashtag suggested in WhatsApp groups for social media.
Shocked to hear about assassination of #GauriLankesh .Indeed troubled times for free & fair journalism in #NewIndia .Need to fight together
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) September 5, 2017
And of course, more conspiracy theories followed.
But then, are there some clues in the tweets she posted few hours before she was shot dead?
“Fighting between Ourselves”
“Not try to expose each other”
“Conmrades”Connect the dots.. pic.twitter.com/X29WnRdkjt
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) September 5, 2017
Which comrades is she talking about? What fake news? Who was exposing whom? Why are these angles not talked about?
Or is it something completely different?
A journo #GauriLankesh was killed in a dastardly crime Period #Bangluru. she was working on Siddhramaiah’s Govt Curruption Story pic.twitter.com/1KP20qdaZL
— Vikas Bhadauria ABP (@vikasbha) September 5, 2017
Without speculating and creating panic, let investigative agencies look into the murder and ensure that the culprits are caught and justice is meted out.
Let us not hold
