Journalist, Shujaat Bukhari who was assassinated by gunmen in Srinagar’s press colony on the 14th day of June 2018 was remembered on Sunday by the Journalist fraternity of Kashmir and several others including prominent politicians.
His killing sent shockwaves across Kashmir and the void his killing created in the Journalist fraternity of Kashmir is still looming at a large and since then, hathe whole media fraternity has been working on the razor’s edge in the valley.
Daanish Bin Nabi, One of the editors of Rising Kashmir, the newspaper Shujaat Bukhari owned, speaking at a virtual condolence meeting in remembrance of Shujaat Bukhari said, “Shujaat always supported the media fraternity of Kashmir, he stood by young journalists and encouraged ground reportage, he promoted a healthy newsroom and was always supportive to young journalists.”
Anuradha Bhasin, the editor-in-chief of Kashmir Times in her condolence message said, “I have a deep association with Shujaat, he started his career with Kashmir times, the long association continued with Shujaat even after he started his own newspaper. Shujaat was a peace activist and he always supported the process of dialogue to resolve Kashmir, where people of Jammu Kashmir are involved in the dialogue.”
Kashmir News Service (KNS) management headed by its Editor-in-chief Mohammed Aslam Bhat Sunday held a condolence meet on the 3rd death anniversary of prominent journalist Dr. Shujaat Bukhari. “The role played by Bukhari in the field of journalism can never be forgotten. He said the death of Bukhari was the loss for the whole journalist fraternity, which cannot be compensated,” Mohammed Aslam Bhat said.
Meanwhile, the People’s Conference, paying tributes to the Journalist said, “Today is his third death anniversary. Three years have passed when he was silenced. But one still wonders who died that day- Shujaat or his killers? On this day Shujaat gave us all a reason to be proud of objective, fearless, and selfless journalism. Mourning his death will be naive, let us celebrate the courage with which he fought in the forefront. Rest in Peace Shujaat.”
The Senior Superintendent of Jammu Kashmir Police for Anantnag district also tweeted on the occasion of the third anniversary of Shujaat Bukhari. In his condolence message, he wrote, “You will be always missed @bukharishujaat sahab. Terrorists killed your body but your thoughts resonate everywhere & challenge the very existence of poisonous ideology breeding terrorism. Falsehood shall perish & your truth will live on.”
You will be always missed @bukharishujaat sahab. Terrorists killed your body but your thoughts resonate everywhere & challenge the very existence of poisonous ideology breeding terrorism. Falsehood shall perish & your truth will live on. pic.twitter.com/CLLxmRnnC2
— Imtiyaz Hussain (@hussain_imtiyaz) June 14, 2021
“Kashmir ran along with the blood in his veins, he loved everything that was Kashmiri. He was deeply fond of his homeland,” Mohammed Amin Bhat of Adabi Markaz Kamraaz said while remembering Shujaat Bukhari.
Renowned journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Srinagar’s Press Colony on June 14, 2019, a day before Eid-ul-Fitr. The assailants opened fire on Bukhari’s vehicle. He was hit by multiple bullets fired from a close range.
A security guard protecting him and his driver was also shot. He and others were immediately rushed to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital, where the journalist succumbed to his injuries.