A prominent Indian journalist known for her outspoken criticism of rightwing Hindu nationalist politics has been shot dead outside her home in Bangalore, sending shockwaves through India’s media industry.

Gauri Lankesh, 55, had worked in New Delhi for leading English language newspapers and was more recently editing her own local-language weekly. She was opening her front door on Tuesday night on her return from work when she was shot in the chest and head by motorbike-riding gunmen. The assailants fled. 

Lankesh was a co-founder of the Communal Harmony Forum. She was outspoken and highly critical about the rising tide of threats, intimidation and violence against those opposed to Hindu nationalism, or those who challenged orthodox Hindu interpretations of faith and history.