Shujaat Bukhari: Leaders, journalists mourn killing of Rising Kashmir editor

Veteran journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari and his PSO were shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside the newspaper's office in Srinagar.

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

NEW DELHI: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday expressed anguish over the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar and described him as a "brave heart" who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu and Kashmir. "I'm anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir. 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," he said on Twitter.

I’m anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 14, 2018

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh condemned the killing of Bukhari, calling it an act of cowardice. The home minister also said that he was shocked by the journalist's death. "The killing of @RisingKashmir 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 said.

The killing of @RisingKashmir 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.

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 14, 2018

BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav also termed the journalist's killing as a cowardly act of terrorists. In a tweet, the saffron party leader said, "Shocked to hear about d attack on d Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar. Reprehensible n condemnable cowardly act of d terrorists (sic)".

Shocked to hear about d attack on d Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar. Reprehensible n condemnable cowardly act of d terrorists

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) June 14, 2018

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed shock over the incident of killing. "Shocked beyond words. May Shujaat find place in Jannat & May his loved ones find strength at this difficult time," Abdullah said in a tweet and also posted a screenshot of his last conversation with the deceased journalist. He also appreciated Bukhari for defending his profession and said he died in the line of duty doing what he did best & loved doing - journalism. Buhkari and his PSO were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the heart of Srinagar. Bukhari, who was in his 50s, was leaving his office in Press Enclave in the city centre Lal Chowk for an iftar party when he was shot, officials said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also expressed shock over the brutal killing of Bukhari and his PSO. "Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of respected editor and senior journalist @bukharishujaat. With a few hours to go for Eid this is terrible," Banerjee posted on her official twitter handle.

Saddened and shocked at the brutal killing of respected editor and senior journalist @bukharishujaat With a few hours to go for Eid this is terrible. No words are enough for this big tragedy

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 14, 2018

"No words are enough for this big tragedy," she tweeted. "Heartbreaking the loss of Shujaat Bukhari, an incredibly brave editor & an invaluable voice of middle-ground moderation. This is a loss for all Kashmiri’s, India and the entire journalistic community," senior journalist Shekhar Gupta.

Heartbreaking the loss of Shujaat Bukhari, an incredibly brave editor & an invaluable voice of middle-ground moderation. This is a loss for all Kashmiri’s, India and the entire journalistic community

— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) June 14, 2018

The Editors Guild of India said it "unequivocally condemns the assassination of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari". This is a grave attack on press freedom and democratic voice, it said.

The Editors Guild of India unequivocally condemns the assassination of Rising Kashmir Editor Shujaat Bukhari. This is a grave attack on press freedom and democratic voices. We will be issuing a more detailed statement soon

— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) June 14, 2018

(With inputs from agencies)