"We learnt that the victim was shot dead from close range when she was standing at her house in Rajarajeswari Nagar (in the suburbs) around 8.00 p.m.," a senior police officer said.
According to witnesses, three bullets were fired at Lankesh's forehead, killing her instantaneously.
"We will set up a special team to investigate the incident," said the official. Lankesh was the editor of the popular Kannda tabloid "Lankesh Patrike".