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Karnataka govt to provide security to writers who received 'threat letters'

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said he will provide security to writers and intellectuals who have received threat letters.

Published on: Aug 18, 2023, 13:18:04 IST
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Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said a group of writers and intellectuals in the state have written to him saying they have received threats to their life, following which steps are being taken to provide security to them.

Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara. (PTI)
Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara. (PTI)

Accordingly, directions have been issued to Director General of Police Alok Mohan and Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda to provide security to the writers and intellectuals.

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According to the information received, over 15 writers and intellectuals from the state have written to Parameshwara, stating that they have been receiving threat letters for the past one year and sought time to meet him. They also said that they received letters saying that they will meet the fate of late activists M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh.

The two were shot dead by a fringe right wing group during the tenure of previous BJP government.

“The writers and intellectuals have sought time. They had written a letter, which I am forwarding to the Director General of Police because we have many bitter memories. We have not forgotten the assassination of M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh,” G Parameshwara told reporters.

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He said the state government will take the threat to the litterateurs and intellectuals seriously in the given situation.

“I am giving directions to the DGP and the Police Commissioner to provide security to these litterateurs. We will take it seriously,” he added. Asked whether communal forces were behind the threat letters sent to the literatteurs, he said he has no clue. “We will know only after meeting the literatteurs. Based on the information they have we can take appropriate action, he added.

  • Yamini C S
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yamini C S

    Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More