Shujaat Bukhari murder: Pakistan's ISI behind Rising Kashmir editor's killing, Sources say

According to sources, it was a planned murder which was carried out by Lashkar and Hizbul terrorists on the instruction from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.

Shujaat Buhkari and his PSO were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the heart of Srinagar.

NEW DELHI: Pro Pakistan forces have struck again in Jammu and Kashmir by killing the veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari. Preliminary investigation by the Intelligence Bureau and Jammu and Kashmir police has revealed Lashkar-E-Taiyaba and Hizbul Muzahiddin's joint hand behind Bukhari's assassination, Sources said on Friday. According to sources, it was a planned murder which was carried out by terrorists on the instruction from Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI. The police are going through Shujaat Bukhari's social media accounts to get a clear picture, they added. They have found links where Pakistani groups have been critical of him for his writings and Lashkar and United Jehad Council had warned him with consequences for towing different agenda that suits the Indian government. Top IB sources told ABP News that one of the killers who fired at Bukhari could be Naveed Jat, the Pakistani Lashkar man, who escaped from a hospital in Srinagar. Jat has now has joined hands with Hizbul and coordinates with Lashkar. The man was seen in CCTV grab as the one sitting on the middle (sandwiched). Sources said his height, appearance resembles Naved Jat. But it is being confirmed as this is again an early assessment, the probe will reveal more. Other two terrorists who were part of the killer team have been identified a Mehrajuddin Bangroo and Waza of Lashkar, who came from Pulwama. But the big question is that why was Shujaat Bukhari targetted? The intelligence sources told ABP News that Bukhari was targetted because other than being a senior journalist, he was the brother Basharat Bukhari, a minister in the PDP-BJP government. Basharat's rise in PDP was attributed to Bukhari's clout in PDP and his proximity with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti. The ISI got him killed as it could be considered a direct attack on the Jammu and Kashmir government. A top intelligence officer said that motive behind Bukhari's killing could be that he was part of the Track II dialogue process with Pakistan as an Indian government's representative. Meetings were held in Istanbul and Dubai and it's from these meetings the idea of the ceasefire in Kashmir during Ramzaan originated. The UJC had openly attacked Bhukhari saying who appointed him as a spokesperson for the Kashmiris in the state. The big question is will the government extend the suspension of operation in Jammu and Kashmir. Top Government Sources told ABP News that now it's final that government will not extend the suspension of operations in J&K after the Eid. It will be allowed to lapse after 16th, the last day of ceasefire. After Eid, security forces to launch operation 'All Out' with full might and including cordon and search operation. Supporters for extension of the suspension of operation including Home Minister Rajnath Singh were on backdoor after the brutal murder of Bukhari and kidnapped army jawan Aurangzeb. When asked by the ABP News, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: "Operation was suspended till 16th of June so he will speak on June 17." Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh will brief the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the situation in Kashmir valley. The Centre will assess what went wrong during the suspension of the operations. A High-level meet on Kashmir will be held on Friday evening. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Army Chief Bipin Rawat would also attend the meet at the Prime Minister's Office.