Bengaluru: Two men accused of the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh received a grand welcome from pro-Hindu groups after securing bail on October 9. Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, who had been incarcerated for six years, were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court and released from Parappana Agrahara prison on October 11.
When they returned to their hometown of Vijayapura, they were greeted by local pro-Hindu supporters with garlands, orange shawls, and celebratory chants. The pair then paid tribute to a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji by laying garlands and later visited the Kalika temple to offer prayers, according to an India Today report.
Nine men granted bail
Supporters welcomed them back, asserting that the two had been wrongly imprisoned. In addition to Waghmore and Yadave, several others—Amol Kale, Rajesh D Bangera, Vasudev Suryawanshi, Rushikesh Devadekar, Ganesh Miskin, and Amith Ramachandra Baddi—were also granted bail on October 9,according to a LiveLaw report.
A prominent pro-Hindu leader, speaking to the media, remarked, “Today, on Vijayadasami, a day of great importance for us, we welcomed Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, who have been wrongfully imprisoned for six years in connection with Gauri Lankesh’s murder. The real perpetrators are still at large, but these men were targeted simply because of their pro-Hindu affiliations. Their families have endured much suffering, and this injustice requires serious reflection.”
Who was Gauri Lankesh?
Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist recognized for her left-leaning stance and vocal criticism of extreme Hindutva ideologies, was shot dead by three assailants on motorcycles outside her Bengaluru residence on September 5, 2017. Her murder sparked outrage across the country, leading to widespread condemnation. In December 2023, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah ordered the formation of a special court to fast-track the trial of the accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case.
