Sir - The gruesome murder of the eminent journalist and social activist, Gauri Lankesh, is a matter of great concern . The tragedy has shocked citizens who dream of a secular and unified India. It illustrates that anyone who fights for social justice runs the risk of being killed.

Lankesh could have taken up a risk-free job and lived a comfortable life. Instead, she chose to fight for a cause she believed in. One hopes that the special investigation team working on the case will unearth the truth behind Lankesh murder and facilitate the punishment of her killers.

Her death is a great setback to the fight for human rights in the country. One hopes that her legacy will inspire aspiring journalists. Yours faithfully,

Gruesome killing of a man in Alwar district in India's Rajasthan,state by group of people who accused him of Cow smuggling has sent shock waves among those who dream of secular and equitable India,It is a horrific and unfortunate incident which should be condemned nation wide.

I have always been a proud Indian,who believes that country's strength lies in diversity and acceptance of different culture,lynching need to be end before it gets out of control.

NGO's,the media and other social organisation,should start an awareness campaign to end this menace.

This is with reference to your news item, Five ge death for Karnal honour Killing’. This is indeed a historical judgement and will send a stern message to Khap Panchyats who take law into their own hands, ordering the killing of innocent people . Tragically, the government has always shown apathy towards this.

Hopefully, this will deter brutal honour killing, which are common in Haryana.

Apropos to your excellent news item 'Letting down people to please rain gods' (DNA, July 21), I am also a firm believer in God but definitely against spending money from the exchequer on pujas. This is a disturbing phenomenon that will make people superstitious. I wish to paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi when he said that if you want to assess a country's progress you should pick up the poorest among the people and see how far they have gone up the ladder of prosperity and how you can help them.

The Karnataka Government and opposition parties should unite to fight this unprecedented drought in North Karnataka and should spend 17 crores for the welfare of poor people instead.

SIR, The daylight murder of Dr Narendra Dabholkar, the eminent social activist, reformer, rationalist and a crusader against superstitions, is a matter of great concern.

The tragedy illustrates that rationalists who fight for social issues and against corruption run the risk of being killed. Notably, Satyendra Dubey of the National Highways Authority of India, Satish Shetty, the RTI activist, and the Indian Oil engineer, Manjunath, who was killed by the oil mafia. Dabholkar was remarkably progressive in his outlook and an accomplished orator. His lifelong mission was to fight against outdated rituals, rooted in superstitious ignorance.

His campaigns were effective despite the threat perception. He had to countenance the resistance of retrograde elements. Even Veer Savarkar had opposed many of these superstitious practices. Dabholkar had been able to persuade the Maharashtra government to pass the anti-superstition and black magic bill. He led a movement called "Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti" (Anti-superstition movement) to change social attitudes and inculcate a scientific temper.

He was a doctor by profession and had authored several books. He was also the editor of a progressive magazine, Sadhana.

His death is a great setback to the progressive movement not only in Maharashtra but in the country at large. We hope that his inspiring legacy will help us to counter superstition. It devolves on the government to track down the killers and make sure that they are awarded exemplary punishment.

Yours, etc.

Apropos the editorial 'Murder of dissent' (September 7), the gruesome killing of journalist-crusader Gauri Lankesh has sent a shock wave among those who dream of a secular and equitable India. The tragedy illustrates that those who fight for social issues and against corruption run the risk of being killed.

Daughter of an eminent journalist in the 80s, she had the option to take up a cushy job in mainstream media, but she chose to work for a cause she felt was right. Exemplary punishment should be awarded to the killers.

Her death is a great setback not only to the progressive movement in Karnataka, but also the entire country. Her legacy should inspire young journalists.

The gruesome killing of India's renowned writer and academician M. M. Kalburgi has sent shock waves among all those who dream of a secular national and equitable India.

The 77-year-old who was killed at his home was the winner of the Sahitya Academy the country's top literary award. He had been on the radar of the right wing Hindu groups for his writings and speeches which they saw as anti-Hindu. Kalburgi would always speak out against idol worship that had invited anger and wrath of the Hindutva groups and which ultimately resulted in his death.

The people in Dharwad the literary capital of Karnataka state that has produced the highest number of literature awardees are totally in a state of shock and dismay as such killings targeting giant litterateurs were till not unheard of. Dr. Kalburgi's brutal killing has therefore sparked widespread protests across the state.

An outspoken and liberal writer Kalburgi was professor of Kannada literature and former vice chancellor of Hampi University. He was the winner of many prestigious awards and citations for his contribution to Kannada literature. He has written 100 books. I think a Special Investigation Team (SIT) should be formed with officers experienced in such cases so that the culprits are brought to book at the earliest and exemplary punishment is given to them.

An unfortunate trend has begun in the country to silence the voice of freedom and reason. We know that not much ago Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare were killed in similar fashion. Their murders still remain unsolved. They too had expressed similar rational views. All efforts must be made for the security of such people if India's character of a nation in diversity is to be saved.

Apropos the editorial 'Murder of dissent' (September 7), the gruesome killing of journalist-crusader Gauri Lankesh has sent a shock wave among those who dream of a secular and equitable India. The tragedy illustrates that those who fight for social issues and against corruption run the risk of being killed.

Daughter of an eminent journalist in the 80s, she had the option to take up a cushy job in mainstream media, but she chose to work for a cause she felt was right. Exemplary punishment should be awarded to the killers.

Her death is a great setback not only to the progressive movement in Karnataka, but also the entire country. Her legacy should inspire young journalists.

Sir — This refers to the editorial, "Justice to Lankesh" (September 8). The gruesome killing of eminent journalist and social activist Gauri Lankesh is matter of grave concern. The tragedy illustrates that those who fight for social issues and against corruption, run the risk of being killed.

Daughter of eminent journalist, P Lankesh, Gauri had an option to take a cushy job in mainstream media and live a comfortable life, but she chose to work for a cause she felt was right. The Special Investigation Team, under Inspector general BK Singh, supported by Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) MN Anucheth, hopefully will bring the truth out.

This murder is a great setback to the progressive movement, not only in Karnataka but in the country at large. We hope that her inspiring legacy will help us inspire budding journalists.

One of the greatest evils that still prevails in our so-called modern world is the dreaded phenomenon of honour killings. Honour killings have been a part of our society for a long time and there seems to be little effort made to curb this menace.

Honour killings occur in order to save the so-called pride of a family or community. There are those who believe that certain acts bring great dishonour to the whole family and the way to regain their 'honour' is to perpetrate murder. One often sees an honour killing case coming to light if a young couple chooses to marry of their own free will, but against the wishes of their family members. There is a twisted mindset prevalent in our society that sees this as an act bringing dishonour to one's family or community.

Every individual has the right to live his or her own life according to his or her own wishes. After reaching adulthood, the family has no right to force young people into marriages or any other act if they are unwilling to do so. If an individual wants to marry of their own accord, the parents should accept their wishes.

It is time that our laws were modified to enable the punishment of those involved in honour killings. These killings need to be roundly condemned and the perpetrators brought to justice so that we can save innocent lives. We need both internal and external control methods to free our society from the clutches of this age-old evil.

The brutal killing of the 55-year-old Muhammad Ikhlaq over rumors that he ate/stored beef in Dadri a small town on the outskirts of the national capital Delhi has come as the most shocking event in recent times.

This is beyond imagination that people can go to this extent by killing their fellow human beings on the issue of one's personal beliefs on what to eat and what not to.

I learned some of those involved in the murder were friends of Ikhlaq and would cook and dine together. Members of both the communities would join each other's festival and celebrate festivals like Eid Diwali and Rakhsha Bandhan for decades.

Then how come the same man though of a different faith is dragged out of his house by a frenzy mob of 200 Hindus and beaten to death for allegedly consuming beef which is banned? It is not yet confirmed whether he ate beef or mutton which in any case is under police investigation.

This heinous crime brings to the fore the simmering communal tension prevailing among communities and should be condemned by all sane people of the country.

However it looks like part of a very sinister but disturbing pattern that is out to tear apart the fabric of communal harmony. This takes us to another logical question: Are we moving from democracy to a state of mobocracy?

If India is to be a respectable and developed country we have to stop all this nonsense of religions bigotry. Religions must be confined to one's personal beliefs and should not be imposed on others. If not restrained such madness will have a very serious impact on social lives as also on the economic sector.

The governments both the center and provincial must ensure that such incidents are not repeated and offenders are brought to justice even if that needs fast-track courts.

Historical Judgment of Death Sentence against Brutal killing and So called Hounour Killing given by Hon District Judge, who happens to be a Lady, Mrs Vani Sharma of Karnal is most applauding and will be written in golden words of Indian Judiciary and this verdict will clearly send a strong message to everyone that no body is above the Law of the Land. and The panchayats will no longer be allowed to carry out the so called kangaroo Courts who act as Judges ,prosecutors and swift executioners and only Law of Land will work irrespective of these Panchayats social , caste and political patronage.

This verdict is most timely and echoed the sentiments of large number of people of this country nothing illustrate the apathy of Government, Police and social organizations who have remained Mute spectators.