Amnesty International India today asserted that the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh by gunmen outside her residence in Bengaluru raises alarms about the state of freedom of expression in the country.

"Gauri Lankesh was never afraid of speaking truth to power. Her assassination must be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice," said the Programmes Director at Amnesty International India, Asmita Basu.

"The police must investigate whether she was killed because of her journalism," she said.

55-year-old Gauri Lankesh was the editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike, a Kannada weekly. She was widely regarded as an independent and outspoken journalist and activist, and a fierce critic of hardline Hindu groups in Karnataka.Speaking to journalists, the Bangalore City Police Commissioner said that unidentified men shot Gauri Lankesh in a close range, and three bullets hit her on the neck and chest.

"Critical journalists and activists have increasingly faced threats and attacks across India in recent years. The State Governments must act to protect those whose voices of dissent are being silenced," Basu mentioned."Investigations into these killings have been ineffective for too long," she added.