The Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday identified the killers of journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was assassinated on 14th June’18 in Srinagar by a gunman accompanied by two people when he was coming from his office and getting into the car.
As per sources, two of the attackers are from South Kashmir and another is a Pakistani national. Reports suggested that it was Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Abu Hanzala aka Naveed Jatt who was behind the killing of Rising Kashmir chief editor Shujaat Bukhari and two of his PSOs. They further said that the Pakistani terrorist had escaped from police custody from Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital in February this year. The police have also identified a Pakistan-based blogger who had “started a smear campaign” against Bukhari.
ALSO READ: Special Police Officer goes missing with service rifle in J&K
They said that the blogger is a terrorist from Srinagar and is currently settled in Pakistan. The Police are however likely to address a press conference on Wednesday evening and reveal the details about the case.
Bukhari, the Chief Editor of Rising Kashmir, was killed on June 14 by three men outside his office. His death sent a wave of shock through India’s north-most state. J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met with Bukhari’s family at the hospital whereas former CM Omar Abdullah was present at Baramulla on Friday as hundreds of people gathered to pay their last respects. Moments after the attack, the Jammu and Kashmir police released visuals of three men on a motorcycle fleeing the Press Enclave where the brutal killings were carried out.
ALSO READ: We will never ever attack yatris as they are our guests’,…
The first suspect was seen as wearing a helmet, while the second was carrying a bag and the third is wearing a mask. Suspect 2, was seen sitting in between on the motorcycle, is believed to be Hanzala. A photo of the fourth suspect, appearing to steal a pistol snatched from an injured PSO and putting it in his pocket. The arrested fourth suspect was identified as Zubair. Lashkar-e-Taiba has denied its involvement in the attack terming it an act of “Indian agencies.