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KILLING OF JOURNALIST SHUJAAT BHUKHARI: SCAR ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS

Taha Yaseen
Taha Yaseen
4 Min Read

When Shujaat Bukhari was brutally killed by the terrorists three years ago on 14 June after been shot in his office at Srinagar’s press enclave, it was not only the darkest day in the history of journalism in the state, but had left a wide scar & the void in the fraternity which is fighting the terrorism with the pen under the constant violation of human rights by the terrorists in the state. The assassination was remembered as the third anniversary on 14 June remembering the notable journalist. Jammu based senior journalist, Zafar Choudhary wrote a moving piece on his death anniversary describing his last journey with the prominent editor. ” By the time I joined journalism, Shujaat Bukhari was already a widely read and respected in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond. Choudhary said, reveals you to each other in true form. For over a decade Shujaat and I took many journeys together and each revealed him to me as a man great character and strength. Our every travel to just another district in Jammu and Kashmir , another city in India, or to a faraway continent offers a great story to tell. Such stories will come in due time. Here I am recalling the last journey we took together and the last evening we spent together. This memorization of the last time we spent together is a tribute to my friend. ” He also wrote about track II meeting in Turkey, and how excited both of them were to visit the mausoleum of Maulana Rumi. Choudhary also threw light on Bukhari’s love for Kashmir. His office colleague and former deputy editor of Rising Kashmir, Suhail Ahmad also paid tributes to Bukhari. He wrote about grief following the killing, Ahmad wrote, “The grief is still quite palpable among his family, friends and admirers Such was the charming personality of the man,” In his column for the newspaper that Bukhari left behind, Ahmad recalled how charming newsroom was during his days as editor. “I often recall the memorable moments I spent with Shujaat sir at ‘Rising Kashmir’ along with other colleagues. There are just so many anecdotes to keep his smiling face alive in the heart and mind. Even when he was not around , the jovial newsroom atmosphere he had cultivated ensured that the tedious task of bringing out a newspaper was marked by pranks, laughter and cherished camaraderie” Ahmad said. He also writes about how the reality of his death cuts short the excitement of the past, “It is followed by a shudder as I recall those tense moments when I rushed to the hospital praying and hoping that he would survive the attack, after all he had survived abduction bid and a near fatal stroke in the past. The happy flashbacks are swiftly wiped out when the scenes outside the mortuary are replayed in my mind, “Ahmad laments. Meanwhile, politician also paid tributes to Bukhari, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples conference (JKPC) in a statement said, ” Today is his third death anniversary. Three years have passed when he was silenced but one still wonders who died that day- Shujaat or killers? On this day Shuiaat gave us a reason to be proud of objective, fearless, and selfless journalism.

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