Pak militant, 2 locals killed Bukhari: Police
All attackers identified, vital clues found from CCTV footage
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir police have achieved a breakthrough in the murder of Shujaat Bukhari by identifying three militants, including a Pakistani national, who gunned down the senior journalist outside his newspaper’s office in Srinagar earlier this month.
“The case has been solved and all the attackers identified,” said a police officer.
Top police officers were not ready to disclose more details about the case, terming it “sensitive,” and asked journalists to wait for an official statement.
News agency Press Trust of India quoted police officials in Srinagar as saying that the three suspects included escaped Lashker-e-taiba terrorist Naveed Jatt, a Pakistani national.
The J&K police have got some concrete clues on the killing of Bukhari and expects to crack the case soon, even by the end of June, Hindustan Times reported on Monday, citing senior police officers who spoke 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.
Bukhari, 50, the editor-inchief of Rising Kashmir newspa- per, was attacked by three gunmen on a motorcycle while he was entering his car on June 14. Two of his security guards were also killed as the gunmen sprayed bullets on them.
A special investigation team headed by deputy inspector general (DIG), Srinagar, of Jammu and Kashmir police VK Birdi identified the three men on the basis of closed circuit television (CCTV) camera recordings. People familiar with the development said a Pakistan-based anonymous blogger who targeted Bukhari and other journalists has also been identified.
J&K police has arrested two persons in this case, but ruled out their involvement in the murder.
During interrogation, police found that they had no links with the attackers; one of the arrested men stole the pistol of a special police officer (SPO) killed in the attack.
The weapon was also recovered by the police.