Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — Two men accused in murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in 2017, Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave were honoured and given a grand welcome by pro-Hindu groups in Vijayapura after the duo was granted bail by a special court on October 9 and was formally released from Parappana Agrahara prison on October 11.
Upon their return to their hometown in Vijayapura, they were welcomed with garlands, orange shawls, and chants of celebration by the local pro-Hindu supporters. The duo was taken to a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, which they garlanded as a symbolic gesture. Following this, they visited the Kalika temple to offer prayers, reports India Today.
This reception has sparked controversy, as Gauri Lankesh was an outspoken critic of Hindutva ideology, and her assassination had drawn national outrage. The murder case has seen delays in the trial, with several accused now being granted bail after years of imprisonment.
Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist and activist, was assassinated on September 5, 2017, outside her home in Bengaluru. Known for her outspoken criticism of Hindutva ideologies, Lankesh’s murder was widely condemned across India, sparking national outrage. An investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) named several individuals associated with pro-Hindu groups, including Parashuram Waghmore, as the alleged perpetrators of the crime.
Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave had been incarcerated for six years.
According to the reports, the celebratory reception included symbolic gestures, such as garlanding the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji and visiting the Kalikadevi Temple to perform religious rituals.
Videos of the event were widely circulated on social media, showing a pro-Hindu leader draping the accused with shawls as chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” were heard from the crowd
Pro-Hindu leaders defending the accused, however, have claimed that they were wrongfully imprisoned, alleging that the charges were politically motivated. Neelkantha Kandagal, leader of the fringe group Sriram Sene, stated that the accused were targeted for their Hindu affiliations and suggested that the real perpetrators are yet to be apprehended. This stance has deepened the polarisation surrounding the case, with accusations of political bias and persecution being leveled against the previous Congress-led government
Despite the SIT’s extensive investigation and the submission of a chargesheet in 2018, the trial in the Gauri Lankesh case has been delayed, primarily due to procedural challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic. Several accused have been granted bail over time, with the latest bail granted to eight individuals, including Waghmore and Yadave.
The reception of the accused has ignited fresh controversy, with many expressing outrage over the celebration of individuals charged with such a heinous crime. Lankesh’s assassination, widely seen as an attack on free speech, continues to be a flashpoint for debates on political violence, extremism, and the safety of journalists in India
