Activists condemn Lankesh’s murder on Gandhi Jayanti day

According to a senior police official, those detained were lodged in a marriage hall and later let off in the evening. Among those detained were some academicians and authors, including professor Mangai and Manushyaputhiran.

Police said a group of persons, including some from a youth outfit, arrived at the spot to garland the statue of Mahatma Gandhi as part of seeking justice for Lankesh, who was gunned down by some unidentified persons in Bengaluru last month. 

When they were told that only one person could go ahead, an argument ensued before police detained them. Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artistes Association condemned the detention of the authors and academicians. 

Stating that several people paid their respects to the statue of Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi, the association alleged police “forcibly” evicted the authors and academicians who raised slogans near the statue. 

“We strongly condemn the incident. It is undemocratic,” the association state President S Tamilselvan said in a statement.