‘Rising Kashmir' Chief Editor and International Award Winner Shujaat Bukhari Shot Dead In Srinagar

Very famous and popular newspaper journalist and editor in Indian-administered Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar on Thursday.
Jammu & Kashmir’s chief minister Mehbobba Mufti to describe the attack as a “new low for terrorism”. The killings, on the eve of Eid, left Srinagar stunned and there was all-round condemnation.
Shujaat Bukhari, early 50’s , the editor-in-chief of ‘Rising Kashmir’, was targeted by three gunmen on a motorcycle while he was in his car, having just left his Press Enclave office just before Iftar. He was accompanied by two security guards, Abdul Hameed and Mumtaz Ahmad, who were also killed as multiple bullets were sprayed at them.
A CCTV grab, released by the J&K police, shows the three attackers on a motorcycle. While the rider was wearing a helmet, the other two men were wearing masks to hide their identity. They can be seen carrying guns hidden in a sack.
“Yesterday at about 7:30pm when he was coming out of his office and boarding his car, three terrorists, who had come on a motorcycle, opened fire. Two of his PSOs [personal security officers] were also hit… They were shot before they could react,” he said.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh said “There is no doubt that terrorists have killed Shujaat Bhukhari.” He also spoke to the Jammu and Kashmir CM Mehbooba Mufti late on Wednesday, and said she was “distraught”.
Jammu and Kashmir Police released pictures of the assailants, asking the public to help identify them.
A journalist for three decades, he had worked for 15 years at The Hindu and was known in the state and the rest of the country as an important Kashmiri voice. No militant organisation had taken responsibility for the attack yet. Bukhari was an advocate of a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir issue and was instrumental in organising several conferences involving former diplomats and generals from India and Pakistan. He was also part of the Track-II diplomatic process with the neighbouring country Pakistan.
The killing led to an outpouring of condolence messages from people on all sides of the political spectrum, including separatist leaders. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of respected editor and senior journalist @bukharishujaat. With a few hours to go for Eid this is terrible. No words are enough for this big tragedy.”
“I’m anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed,” said Congress President Rahul Gandhi in a tweet.
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who went to Bukhari’s house to meet his family, broke down while speaking about him. “This is really shocking. He came to meet me a few days back. This is upsetting…,” she said.
“This is a shameful act. Media is free in India. The state govt & the central govt are committed for the freedom of press in the country & the state:” Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Union Minister on the killing of Editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper Shujaat Bukhari.
A senior police officer said that gunmen had opened fire on Bukhari and his security guards from two sides. “He (Bukhari) has several bullet injuries and probably died on the spot,’’ the officer said.
Bukhari’s colleague at Rising Kashmir, Ishfaq Ahmad, said he had just left the office. “Within minutes, we heard gunshots. I can’t believe that our editor is dead.’’
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said that Bukhari had died in the line of duty. “Even in the last tweet he put out, he was defending himself, his colleagues & his profession. He died in the line of duty doing what he did best & loved doing – journalism,’’ Abdullah tweeted.
Bukhari had written in the tweet at 11.33am that he and his colleagues had “done Journalism with pride and will continue to highlight what happens on ground”, in response to a tweet that had described him as intolerant.
Bukhari’s killing has cast a cloud of uncertainty over the extension of the Ramzan halt to operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir, which, according to few security agencies, has allowed militants to regroup.
The pros and cons of extending the so-called unilateral ceasefire were earlier discussed at a meeting called by home minister Rajnath Singh, officials said. During the one-month ceasefire, three local policemen, four civilians, three army soldiers and 24 militants have been killed in more than 60 incidents of violence.
The Editors Guild of India issued a statement saying they “unequivocally” condemned the attack. This is a grave attack on press freedom and democratic voices.”
The Press Club of India issued a statement “strongly condemning” the killing of Mr. Bukhari.
He is survived by his wife Tahmeena, son Tamheed and daughter Duriya. His brother Basharat Bukhari, is a senior PDP leader and Minister for Horticulture, Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs in the Mehbooba Mufti-led government.
> Pratyusha Mukherjee, Calcutta, India