Interlocutor, Azad, several others visit Shujaat's family

SRINAGAR: Centre's Special Representative Dineshwar Sharma and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were among thousands of people from different walks of life who today visited the ancestral village of late Syed Shujaat Bukhari at Kreeri here to join the special prayers organized in connection with the Chaharum of the deceased journalist.

Sharma who arrived today morning on a two-day visit, visited Bukhari's ancestral home at Kreeri and offered condolences to the bereaved family on the fourth day of the slain journalist's "faateha" ceremony.

Former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha Member Ghulam Nabi Azad also visited Bukhari's residence on Rasm-e-Chaharum.

Congress President, Rahul Gandhi Monday wrote a condolence letter to slain Bukhari's family. Expressing himself "shocked at the cold-blooded killing", he, in his letter to Bukari's father Rafiuddin Bukhari, described Buklhari as "one of the few moderate voices in an atmosphere torn apart by narrow political considerations", and that his loss is "a grim reminder that progressive voices are constantly at the risk of being silenced by extremist elements".

"In the true spirit of journalism, his moderate views were critical for a nuanced understanding of the Kashmir question. A firm votary of a political dialogue with Pakistan, his commitment towards a credible peace process will be remembered.

"I offer my sincere condolences to the team at Rising Kashmir and wish you success in carrying on the excellent work done by you," Gandhi added.

Former Union Minister, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, State Ministers, Legislators, members of judiciary, senior politicians, journalists, writers, representatives of various editor forums, lawyers, religious and civil society leaders, businessmen and representatives from other prominent sections of the society also joined the special prayers for Bukhari and expressed solidarity with the family including Syed Rafi-ud-Din Bukhari, Syed Basharat Bukhari and other family members.

Meanwhile, eleven media organisations in New Delhi urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to bring the killers of senior journalist to book at the earliest, and institute an inquiry into the malicious campaign launched against the scribe before his murder.

In a joint statement-cum-resolution, Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps, Press Association, Editors' Guild, South Asian Free Media Association, South Asian Women in Media, Indian Journalists' Union, National Union of Journalists, Foreign Correspondents' Club , Working News Camerapersons Association and All India Urdu Editors Conference said the senseless murder of Bukhari demanded accountability at various levels.

They said everyone in the country has sovereign right to freedom of speech and expression and increasing intolerance to such freedoms has the potential of "undermining the character and nature of democracy".

We demand that the government of Jammu and Kashmir bring the perpetrators of this dastardly crime to book at the earliest. We demand that the government institute a separate inquiry into those who had launched a malicious campaign against Shujaat, they said.

The cyber cell of the Union Home Ministry should look into all those IP addresses and their sources from where the malicious campaigns were conducted, the statement said.

The organisations said such killings were often preceded by hate messages and malicious campaigns on social media.

Various journalists and other civilians have been viciously trolled and targeted. All such instances ought to be monitored by a vigilant government if civilian safety and security is a priority in governance, they said.

Several journalists, at a remembrance-cum-solidarity meeting held under the aegis of the journalist organisations, condemned the killing of Bukhari, who was the editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir.

Bukhari (50) along with his two security guards was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants outside his office at Srinagar on June 14.

The police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), central Kashmir, to probe the killing.

Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper, was shot dead, along with his two personal security guards, outside his office on June 14 by three motorcycle-borne assailants.

The police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), central Kashmir to probe the killing.

One suspect has so far been arrested in this case. Sources, however, said the SIT has ascertained the identity of the assassins who are still at large.