Bukhari killing: J&K papers leave edit space blank; militants want bandh
20 Jun 2018
All the major newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday left the space for editorial comment blank in protest against the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Srinagar last week.
The editorial spaces of English dailies such as Greater Kashmir, Kashmir Times, Kashmir Reader and Bukhari’s Rising Kashmir as well as Urdu newspapers such as Tamili Irshad and the Daily Aftab were blank. The newspapers in the state hit the stands today after a two-day holiday ahead of Eid.
Meanwhile, separatist leaders have called for a complete shutdown in Kashmir on Thursday against the killings of Bukhari as well as civilians gunned down by security forces in the past few days.
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), an amalgamation of separatist groups, said in a statement today that there had been a sudden spike in civilian killings since the eve of Eid. It also demanded an international probe into Bukhari's killing.
"Joint Resistance Leadership has called for a complete strike on Thursday against the continued civilian killings in the valley, which has witnessed a sudden spike since the eve of Eid as three young boys have been brutally gunned down by the Indian forces while the fourth is struggling for life at SKIMS," the statement said.
The decision to leave editorial spaces blank was taken after the Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) met on Monday evening immediately after the Eid vacations.
“The editorial is the heart of a newspaper. Since our voices have been silent since the murder, we decided to show our protest. There was a proposal of suspending publication for a day but newspapers are the voice of the people, so we decided to publish without editorial to make our point,” said KEG spokesperson Shafat Kira.
The killing was also condemned by the Press Club of India and various press clubs across the country, including those of Mumbai and Chandigarh.
Journalists in Srinagar also organised a silent march on Monday to express anguish over the killing, joined by scores of ordinary people. Editors, correspondents, photojournalists and journalism students walked hand in hand with tapes covering their mouths from Press Enclave to city centre Lal Chowk to protest what they called was an assault on the freedom of expression.
Militant organizations like Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba condemned the killings and blamed Indian agencies for the murder.
Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, 50, was assassinated by three men outside his office at press colony in Srinagar on 14 June. His two personal security officers were also killed in the attack.
He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter. (See: Noted journalist Shujaat Bukhari shot dead in Kashmir).
Bukhari also edited the papers Buland Kashmir and Sangermal, besides being bureau chief of the respected national English daily The Hindu.
Jammu and Kashmir Police blamed the attack on terrorists and released pictures of four persons and have arrested one.
The only man arrested in connection with the murder after being captured on cameras stealing the pistol of one of the slain security guards has not provided any clues yet and may not be connected to the three main suspects.
Rising Kashmir’s Tuesday edition has multiple stories on the murder of its chief editor. The paper also expressed gratitude to its readers for the support and sympathy offered to the publication. “You left all too sudden but you will always be our leading light with your professional conviction and exemplary courage. We won’t be cowed down by the cowards who snatched you from us. We will uphold your principle of telling the truth howsoever unpleasant it may be. Rest in peace!” the paper had said in its tribute to Bukhari on 15 June.