Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) could be behind the killing of noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari, said sources on Friday. It is learned that the agency took the help of Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists for getting the journalist killed.
Meanwhile, Srinagar Police has sought help of the general public to identify the suspects involved in Thursday's terror attack in Press Colony that killed editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper Shujaat Bukhari. Cops have released photographs of the suspect from CCTV footage.
Shujaat Bukhari and his Personal Security Officer(PSO) were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar on Thursday.
Last rites of Bhukhari took place, in Baramulla, on Friday.
Bukhari was the editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper. He was attacked outside the newspaper’s office in the heart of the city.
Bukhari was attacked when he was leaving his office in Press Enclave in the city for an Iftar party.
Another PSO of Bukhari was critically inured in the attack.
Expressing shock over the killing of Bukhari, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid.
"Shocked & deeply saddened by sudden demise of #ShujaatBukhari. The scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid. Strongly condemn this act of mindless violence & pray for his soul to rest in peace. Deepest condolences to his family," she tweeted.
"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," she added.
Terming Bukhari's killing an act of cowardice, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that it was an attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir.
Former chief minister Omar Abdullah also expressed shock over Bukhari's killing.
Strongly condemning the attack on Shujaat Bukhari, India TV Editor-in-Chief Rajat Sharma termed it a brazen assault on the freedom of expression and said that the perpetrators of this crime must be brought to book immediately.
According to officials, while one of the personal security officers (PSOs) guarding him was killed, another policeman and a civilian were injured in the attack.
The condition of the two injured in the shooting, which comes a day ahead of Eid, is critical. Bukhari had earlier worked with The Hindu newspaper as its Kashmir correspondent. Bukhari was instrumental in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir Valley. He was also part of the Track II process with Pakistan.
Watch Video: Noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari shot dead
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