The last rites ceremony of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead by unknown miscreants last night in Srinagar, was performed in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla on Friday.
Bukhari and his two PSOs were attacked by militants as they were getting into their cars outside the Rising Kashmir office at the Press Enclave around 7:15 pm on Thursday. Bukhari is survived by his wife and one son and a daughter.
"Three motorcycle-borne militants came and fired at Bukhari and his guards. Bukhari and one guard were killed and another security guard critically injured," Jammu and Kashmir police chief SP Vaid told reporters.
Despite this irretrievable loss, Rising Kashmir - the English daily published its latest edition on Friday and hit the stands with its front page carrying the full-page photograph of late editor-in-chief in black background. The page also carried the message that the paper would not be cowed down.
"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 message read.
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While the Rising Kashmir and team paid this fitting tribute to Bukhari, politicians, ministers and media organisations from across India strongly condemn the assassination of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari.
Praising the Rising Kashmir's courageous step to publish the latest edition as a tribute to Bukhari, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said, "The show must go on. As Shujaat would have wanted it to. This is today's @RisingKashmir issue. That Shujaat's colleagues were able to bring out the paper in the face of insurmountable grief is a testament to their professionalism and the most fitting tribute to their late boss."
Besides the tweet, Abdullah has also shared a picture of the front page of the daily.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra has conveyed shock and grief over the gruesome killing of Bukhari. Recalling Bukhari's standing as a veteran journalist, the Governor described his murder as a big loss to the media fraternity.
In a message, Vohra prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss. He also called Bukhari's brother and Cabinet Minister Basharat Ahmed Bukhari to convey his heartfelt sympathy.
In a condolence message, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti described the killing of Bukhari as highly barbaric, deplorable and condemnable.
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"Terrorism has hit a new low with Shujaat’s killing. That too, on the eve of Eid. We must unite against forces seeking to undermine our attempts to restore peace. Justice will be done," Mufti wrote in a tweet.
Describing Bukhari's assassination as an "act of cowardice", Rajnath Singh said, "The killing of Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari is an act of cowardice. It is an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir. He was a courageous and fearless journalist. Extremely shocked & pained at his death. My thoughts and prayers are with his bereaved family."
"He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed," Congress president Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet.
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Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also tweeted, "Anguished beyond words. The security situation in J&K has hit its nadir. Demand the Centre take swift action to nab the killers. They can silence us but not our thoughts."
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed shock, saying, "Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of the respected editor and senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari. With a few hours to go for Eid, this is terrible."
Several journalist bodies, including the Press Club of India, condemned the killing of Bukhari during the holy month of Ramadan and demanded prompt action against the forces responsible for his assassination.
Earlier, Bukhari survived three assassination attempts and had been under police protection since 2000. Bukhari is the fourth journalist to be killed by militants in the nearly three-decade-long violence in Kashmir.
In 1991, the editor of 'Alsafa', Mohammed Shaban Vakil, was killed by militants of Hizbul Mujahideen.
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Former BBC correspondent Yussuf Jameel escaped with injuries when a bomb exploded in his office in 1995, but ANI cameramen Mushtaq Ali lost his life in the incident.
Later, on January 31, 2003, Parvaz Mohammed Sultan, editor of NAFA, was shot dead by Hizbul Mujahideen at his Press Enclave office.
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