Senior journalist, Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari shot dead in Srinagar

Senior journalist and editor of a leading Kashmir based daily Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bhukari was shot dead by unknown militants outside his office in Press Colony Srinagar.

Militants fired from close range at Bukhari outside his office in the Press Enclave area of Residency Road in Srinagar, critically injuring him, his driver and a security guard, police sources said.

All the three injured were shifted to hospital, where Bukhari and his driver were declared dead by doctors and the security guard is critical, the sources said.

Shujaat reportedly took multiple bullets fired at him from a close range. It is said to be the first attack on a journalist in a long time in Kashmir and has shaken the entire fraternity.

“This is an attack on the freedom of press,” said Anuradha Jamwal, Executive Editor, Kashmir Times.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to Twitter to express their shock:

This is not the first time that the scribe was attacked. He was given police protection since an attack on him in 2000. Earlier also in 2006 when he was working as a special correspondent of The Hindu, he had a 'miraculous escape' when some unidentified gunmen first abducted him and later attempted to shoot him at close range.

The attack took place hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh held a security review meeting for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage that starts later this month.