Pak-Linked LeT Agents Plotted Shujaat Bukhari’s Murder: J&K Cops

Two of the three killers are from South Kashmir, and the third is from Pakistan, a source claimed.

Senior journalist and editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper, Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by unknown assailants at the Press Enclave in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Jammu and Kashmir Police, in a press conference on Thursday, 28 June, said that they have “tangible evidence” to establish Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the murder of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari, and that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan.

Bukhari, a prominent Kashmir journalist, was assassinated by three motorcycle-borne men on 14 June outside his office in Srinagar. Besides the scribe, two of his PSOs were killed when the assassins opened indiscriminate firing on them.

Police have tangible evidence to establish these were done from Pakistan. The evidence we have is in cooperation of service providers.

SP Pani, IGP, J&K

Sajad Gul (now based in Pakistan), Azad Ahmed Malik (LeT operative), Muzafar Ahmad Bhat (LeT) and Pakistani national Naveed Jatt have been identified as accused, in connection with the murder.

According to Pani, investigators are searching for the accused and will approach the court to obtain a non-bailable warrant against them.

‘Anonymous Blogger Identified’

A source told IANS that police have identified a Pakistan-based blogger who vilified Bukhari and accused him of furthering India's interests.

"The blogger is a Kashmiri, currently residing in Pakistan," the source was quoted as saying by IANS.

Though the blogger called Bukhari's assassination "condemnable", he added that the editor's demise can't wash away his actions (furthering India's interest).

Days later, the same blogger, in another post, targeted two other Kashmiri journalists – Iftikhar Gilani and Ahmed Ali Fayyaz.

“Kashmir struggle can get hijacked by these types of characters and these characters will get exposed with the span of time,” the anonymous blogger wrote, adding:

Time and history always judge such kind of characters and every one will be judged according to their approach. History and Time never forgets who is who & what role was played!!! (sic)

Fayyaz, in a Facebook post, rubbished the blogger's allegations, saying that those who denigrated Bukhari till he was assassinated, were now targeting him and Gilani.

It is completely malicious and preposterous to allege that I have anybody’s brief in discharging my duty.

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz, Senior Journalist from Jammu and Kashmir