Two men accused of killing activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh were given a grand welcome by pro-Hindu groups after they were granted bail by a special court on October 9.
Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadave, who had spent six years behind bars, were granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on October 9 and were formally freed from Parappana Agrahara prison on October 11.
Upon their return to their hometown in Vijayapura, they were welcomed by local pro-Hindu supporters with garlands, orange shawls, and chants of celebration. The two were taken to a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, which they garlanded as a symbolic gesture. Following this, they visited the Kalika temple to offer prayers.
The accused were welcomed back to Vijayapura, and their supporters claimed they were wrongly imprisoned.
Apart from Waghmore and Yadave, Amol Kale, Rajesh D Bangera, Vasudev Suryawanshi, Rushikesh Devadekar, Ganesh Miskin and Amith Ramachandra Baddi were granted bail on October 9, according to a report.
A prominent pro-Hindu leader, while addressing the media, said, "Today is Vijayadasami, a significant day for us. We welcomed Parashuram Waghmore and Manohar Yadve, who have been unfairly jailed for six years on charges related to the murder of Gauri Lankesh. The real culprits have yet to be found, but these men were targeted simply because they are pro-Hindu workers. Their families have suffered, and this injustice needs serious introspection".
Gauri Lankesh, a senior journalist known for her left-leaning views and her strong criticism of extreme Hindutva ideologies, was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne men outside her home in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.
Her murder sent shockwaves through the nation and led to widespread condemnation.
In December 2023, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had directed the establishment of a special court to expedite the trial of those accused in the Gauri Lankesh murder case.
