Dozens of Nepalese journalists, writers and columnists on Wednesday joined a protest in Kathmandu against the killing of Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was gunned down by unidentified men at her home in Bengaluru. They held a condolence meeting after the protest near Singha Durbar, the main administrative building of Nepal. They carried placards and banners decrying the killing and attacks on the freedom of the press. The protestors condemned the killing of Lankesh, an outspoken critic of Hindu extremism who was shot dead on Tuesday evening, and expressed solidarity with Indian journalists. The protest was organised through posts on social media platforms. Several people who addressed the gathering urged the Indian government take stern action against those responsible for the murder. “The power of words cannot be defeated by guns,” CK Lal, a prominent and widely read Nepalese columnist, told the solemn function. “The gruesome killing of Gauri Lankesh shows the record of Indian press freedom is below that of Syria and Iraq.” “We outnumber your bullets !” said one placard carried by a woman. Another placard stated, “ Fascism is not defined by its victims but by the way it kills them.” Nepalese media, including news websites and TV channels, prominently covered the killing on Wednesday. Social media users also protested against the killing and called on the Indian government to protect journalists. भारतीय पत्रकार गौरी लंकेशको हत्याको विरोधमा काठमाडौंमा प्रदर्शन भएको छ। पत्रकार, लेखक तथा अधिकारकर्मीहरुले माइतिघर मण्डलामा भेला भएर हत्याको विरोध गर्दै दोषीमाथि कडा कारबाही गर्न माग गरे। प्रेस स्वतन्त्रता र हत्या विरोधी नारा लेखिएका प्ले कार्ड बोकेर पत्रकार तथा लेखकहरुले प्रदर्शन गरेका थिए। प्रदर्शनमा बोल्दै लेखक सिके लालले अक्षरको शक्तिलाई बन्दुकले थाम्न नसक्ने बताए। लोकतान्त्रिक मुलुक भारतमा प्रेस स्वतन्त्रताको अवस्था इराक, सिरियाको भन्दा कमजोर रहेको लंकेश हत्याकाण्डले देखाउने लालले बताए। ५५ वर्षीया उनको मंगलबार साँझ आफ्नै घरबाहिर टाउको र छातीमा गोली हानी हत्या गरिएको थियो। ३ जनाको समूहमा मोटरसाइकलमा आएका हत्याराहरू उनलाई गोली हानी फरार भएका थिए। उनले विगत ४० वर्ष देखि सक्रिय पत्रकारिता गर्दै आएकी थिइन्। उनी लंकेश पत्रिकाको सञ्चालक हुन्। उक्त पत्रिका विज्ञापन रहित छापिने गर्थ्यो। पिता पी लंकेशको निधनपछि उनले उक्त पत्रिका चलाउन थालेकी थिइन्। आफ्ना पिताको प्रेरणाबाट नै पत्रकारिताको सुरूवात गरेकी उनी भारतीय सञ्चार जगतमा एक निर्भिक तथा निडर महिला पत्रकारको रूपमा चिनिन्छिन् । उनी दक्षिणपन्थको विरोधी थिइन्।