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Sea Of Humanity Bids Shujaat Bukhari Adieu


Date:- 16 Jun 2018


One suspect nabbed, SIT formed into terror attack; Modi chairs meeting to take a call on ceasefire

Thousands of mourners braved heavy downpour in this remote hamlet of north Kashmir on Friday morning to pay last respects to senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was killed by unknown assailants outside his office in Press Enclave of Srinagar on Thursday. Two of his bodyguards were also killed in the attack that has evoked widespread condemnation.

One suspect, identified as Zubair Qadri, was arrested on Friday. Qadri was seen in a video stealing the pistol of a PSO who was shot along with Bukhari. Police had earlier released CCTV footage of four suspects and appealed to the general public to identify them.

Calling it a terror attack, Inspector General Swayam Prakash Pani announced formation of a special investigation team at a hurriedly called press conference.

The shooting of the journalist, on his way to an iftar party, and that of an Army jawan going home for Eid came just before the Centre's Ramzan ceasefire is due to end on Saturday, triggering debate on whether the Centre should resume operations against terrorists.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on the security situation in J&K in which a decision on extending the ceasefire could be taken, officials said. The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and senior officials of Intelligence and security agencies. The issue of security for Amarnath Yatra, starting on June 28, and killings of the Rising Kashmir editor and Army jawan Aurangzeb was also on the agenda, they said.

In the CCTV footage released by police, three of the four suspects are seen riding a motorbike. Eyewitnesses said the three assailants executed the attack shortly after Bukhari settled in the middle of his car and closed the door. The attackers first shot his PSO and driver constable before emptying their guns on Bukhari. A close relative of Bukhari told The Pioneer that he counted 17 bullet wounds on Bukhari's body when he was given the compulsory bath before burial.

Thousands of people arrived at Kreeri, a township in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, where he was laid to rest in ancestral graveyard. The area is represented in the Assembly by Bukhari’s younger brother Basharat Bukhari, who is a Minister in the Mehbooba Government.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz, JKLF chief Yasin Malik, prominent Ministers in the Mehbooba Cabinet, top bureaucrats and police officers, mediapersons and common people took part in the funeral prayers.

Despite killing of its chief editor, Rising Kashmir hit the stands with a message that it would not be cowed down by cowards. “You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won't be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be...Rest in peace!” the paper, which published Bukhari’s full page portrait on its front page, read.

Bukhari had been provided security cover since 2000 when unknown assailants attempted to kidnap him. While he was being escorted in a 3-wheeler, he was able to give his kidnappers a slip.

His killing is fourth in the list of journalists killed in Kashmir during past three decades. In 1991, editor of Urdu daily Alsafa Mohammed Shaban Vakil was killed in his office at Saraibala in Srinagar. In 1995, the then BBC correspondent Yousuf Jameel's office was attacked with a parcel bomb. While Jameel escaped the attack miraculously, his colleague and ANI cameraman Mushtaq Ali was killed. In another attack in 2003, editor of a local news agency Parvaz Mohammed Sultan was shot at his Press Enclave office. Ironically, Shujaat was operating from the same place where Sultan was murdered.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Saturday, 16 June 2018 | Khursheed Wani | Kreeri (North Kashmir)