Bukhari killed on orders from across the border: Police
Say the killers of senior journalist have been identified, case likely to be cracked by end of June
NEWDELHI: The Jammu and Kashmir police department has got some concrete clues on the killing of Shujaat Bukhari and expects to crack the case soon, even by the end of June, senior police officers said on condition of anonymity.
The officers, who are directly involved in investigations, added that Bukhari was gunned down by terrorists on instructions from across the border, most probably for trying to promote peace in the Valley.
According to them, this was seen unfavourably by separatists and the Jamait-e-Islami leaders on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC). “We have clearcut investigation leads to the accused. The killers have been identified,” the officers said, adding that they are now waiting to unravel the digital threads leading to the killers.
The state police has taken note of a June 16 Facebook post in Urdu by Pakistani journalist-activist Ershad Mahmud, who was close to Bukhari, according to the officials, and handed attended the peace conference in Dubai attended by the slain journalist and which seems to have become a contentious issue with separatist groups .
Mahmud’s post says that Bukhari’s views were at odds with those of separatists in the Valley and that of the United Jihad Council headed by senior Jamait and Hizbul Mujahideen leader Sayeed Salahudeen. He claims that at Bukhari’s behest he (Mahmud) had pleaded with Salahudeen , after the latter had called the Rising Kashmir Editor and all those who attended Dubai conference “paid agents of India”.
A spokesman for proscribed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tayebba, also called the participants traitors, who would soon be taught a lesson.
According to Mahmud’s post, Bukhari knew that he was in the crosshairs of terrorists and separatists and wanted him (Mahmud), who stays in Rawalkote, to intercede on his behalf.
Investigators are examining the veracity of Mahmud’s post which has pointed fingers at both the separatists and their intelligence agency mentors from across the border.
“Shujaat was capable of both oration and writing and slowly he began to face opposition from some people; a section of separatists were also annoyed with him. They did not want any new ideas on the resolution of the Kashmir issue,” Mahmud posted in Urdu.
The police officers said they are convinced that Bukhari’s killing was also aimed to send a message to other journalists to not voice anything other than Pakistan’s official line on Kashmir.