Senior journalist Gauri Lankesh, an outspoken critic of Hindutva politics, was shot dead yestarday, police said according to the PTI report.

Karnataka police chief R K Dutta said Lankesh was shot dead by unidentified assailants at the entrance of her residence in Raj Rajeshwari Nagar.

Lankesh, in her 50s, edited a Kannada tabloid 'Gauri Lankesh Patrike' besides owning some other publications.

Dutta said Lankesh had not voiced apprehension about any threat to her life during a couple of meetings he had with her.

Asked about who could be the possible suspects in the killing, the officer refused to hazard any guess, saying "let the investigation proceed first."

Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy condemned the incident, calling it unfortunate.