Gauri Lankesh shot dead: Slain scribe cremated with full state honours

3.09 pm IST: Prakash Javadekar on Gauri Lankesh murder 

2.41 pm IST: The US has condemned the killing of Gauri Lankesh.

"The U.S. Mission in India joins advocates of press freedom in India and world-wide in condemning the murder of respected journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru. We offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Ms. Lankesh," the embassy said in a release

2.39 pm IST: Prakash Raj comforts Gauri Lankesh's mother 

1.59 pm IST: Tight security at Chamrajpet cemetary. Hundreds expected to turn up for funeral 

1.51 pm: Lankesh's body will be kept at Ravindra Kalakshethra until 5 pm, after which it will be taken to Chamrajpet cemetery for funeral, reported Bangalore Mirror. 

1.47 pm IST: Dr. Shankar Prasad, Sampoorna Swaraj Foundation speaking about Gauri Lankesh at Town Hall Bengaluru

1.45 pm IST: Mamata Banerjee on Lankesh's murder 

1.39 pm IST: Siddaramaiah pays last respect to the mortal remains of Gauri Lankesh 

1.38 pm IST: Siddaramaiah reaches Ravindra Kalakshethra.

1.32 pm IST: Family members and friends gather at Ravindra Kalakshethra.

1.26 pm IST: Public TV, citing a police department insider, said that two suspects have been traced from Lankesh's call details.

1.24 pm IST: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asked Home Secretary to seek a report on the murder of Gauri Lankesh from the Karnataka government.

1.16 pm IST: She was a fearless journalist and activist; she stood by her words and acts: Gauri Lankesh's friend

1.06 pm IST: Lankesh's mortal remains brought to Ravindra Kalakshethra 

1.05 pm IST: Karnataka CM meets top officials

1.00 pm IST:  "The bone-chilling murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh is a grim reminder of India's reality where if you disagree, you will be brutally attacked," tweeted Congress leader Randeep Surjewala. "Gauri Lankesh's murder indicates that those living in castles will not tolerate dissent."

12.58 pm IST: The murderers had been following Gauri Lankesh for the past few days, says Kannada news channel Public TV. It said that the first attempt to kill the journalist was made on September 2. 

She has been receiving blank calls and the police reportedly told the channel that a white car was seen driving around in front of her house. The channel also claimed that one of the attackers was waiting in the courtyard, whereas three others had followed Lankesh's car. 

Also read: Protests to be held across India today as politicians, journalists condemn killing

12.47 pm IST: Mortal remains of Gauri Lankesh being taken to Ravindra Kala Kshethra

12.45 pm IST: Protests at town hall 

12.43 pm IST: Nitin Gadkari hits back at Rahul Gandhi's "baseless allegations."

12.39 pm IST: He also said that one of the attackers was wearing a helmet. 

12.38 pm IST:  "We will find her killers. The police has set up roadblocks at various places. Checkpoints around Bengaluru are being monitored," Siddaramaiah noted. 

CM Siddaramiah has ordered an SIT (Speacial Investigation Team) lead by IG level officer to complete the murder investigation

12.30 pm IST: "2 people posted something on Facebook and we are questioning them," he added. 

12.30 pm IST:  When asked if the case would be handed over to the CBI he said: "I left it to DGP who will speak to the home minister and decide on it."

12.26 pm IST: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah talks about the murder. He also said that he recently met Lankesh, but she did not speak to him about any threat. 

12.20 pm IST: Students of Bangalore University have boycotted classes to join the protest. 

12.15 pm IST: Puducherry Journalists' Association has condemned the murder, calling it "beastly and highly condemnable," reported News18. 

12.14 pm IST: Massive protests against Gauri Lankesh's murder in Bengaluru 

12.11 pm IST: BJP demands CBI probe. Speaking at a press conference, BJP leader Ananth Kumar said: "The probe conducted by the state (Karnataka) is not reliable."

12.04 pm IST: Karnataka Police has detained a suspect, says Times Now 

12.03 pm IST: Bengaluru fumes over Lankesh's murder 

12.03 pm IST: Kanhaiya Kumar condoles Lankesh's killing

12.03 pm IST: Rahul Gandhi on Gauri Lankesh murder 

12.00 noon IST: Citizens rally in Double Road, Bengaluru, in protest 

11.58 am IST: Mumbai journalist organisations will hold a candlelight vigil to condemn the murder. 

Social activist K Neela on Gauri Lankesh murder

11.50 am IST: Varun Gandhi has condemned Lankesh's murder 

11. 48 am IST: Karnataka Home Minister is set to address a press conference at 12 pm, reported News18. 

11.45 am IST: Police have acquired the CCTV footage, which shows that the journalist getting out of her car at 7.56 pm to open the gates. Two shots were fired then, after which she tried to run inside. However, she collapsed on the ground and three more shots can be heard. Two bullets pierced her chest, while another one hit her forehead.

On the other hand, A guy named Arjun had posted a comment on facebook glorying this act. The two teams of CCB found his address and reached Chikkamangalore, where he hails from. They have already started interrogating him.

11.35 am IST: Her brother has spoken out on the murder and requested a CBI probe

11.30 am IST: Protests in Bengaluru against Lankesh's killing

After journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead at her home in Bengaluru on Tuesday, September 5, the city has been put on high alert and Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar has reportedly asked all DCPs to carry out nakabandi across the city.

Additionally, check posts have been erected on all the main roads and police have been deployed at toll gates in Nelamangala, Hosur Road and NICE Road. All the vehicles entering and exiting the city are reportedly being thoroughly checked.

"Three special teams set up to crack the case are on the lookout for the suspected assailants. We are taking the movements of people and vehicles at check posts and inter-state borders," the Times of India quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) M.N. Anucheth as saying.

Not just in Bengaluru, the police forces in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, as well as, Andhra Pradesh have been alerted and they will also keep an eye on vehicles in the states, Anucheth explained.

The 55-year-old editor was returning home from work on Tuesday and had stepped out of her car to open the gates when she was shot seven times. Four bullets are said to have hit Lankesh and neighbours found her lying on the porch around 8 pm.

"A total of seven bullets were fired out of which four missed the target and hit the wall of the house. Three bullets had hit her -- two in her chest area and one in the forehead," Suneel Kumar told IANS. The police are said to have found four empty cartridges on the porch and are also examining the CCTV footage.

Meanwhile, it is also being said that the murder could have been carried out by hired killers, though the details are still murky, reported NDTV. It is also unclear whether the attackers followed her when she drove home or were hiding near her house and waited for her return.

While flash protests against Lankesh's blood-curdling murder were held at the Corporation Circle in Bengaluru, Dharwad, and Gadag after reports of the killing trickled in, numerous other cities in the country are set to witness protest meets today, September 6.

Protests were held at Naik Bhawan in Bengaluru at 8.45 am and MM Kalburgi's residence in Dharwad at 10 am today. Press clubs in Delhi and Chennai have also scheduled protest meets at 11 am.

The cities of Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, and Mangalore will witness meets at 4 pm, while Mumbai will come together for the purpose at 6 pm.