Pakistan hand behind the killing of scribe Shujaat Bukhari?

Days after scribe Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead in Srinagar, his three killers have been identified by the police, say sources. One of the killers is Pakistani and believed to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist, and two are locals from south Kashmir, sources said, claiming a breakthrough.

Shujaat Bukhari, the editor of Rising Kashmir, was shot dead on June 14 when he left his office and got into his car to drive to an Iftaar party. The killers, who came on a bike, sprayed bullets at him at close range. The 52-year-old journalist was hit with 17 bullets and his two security guards were also killed.

The terrorists’were seen on CCTV camera, their faces hidden either by masks or a helmet. The man in the middle appeared to be carrying a sack full of weapons. The gunshots were heard in the busy marketplace shouting slogans after the assassination. Police sources believe a Pakistani terrorist who had escaped from police custody in February, when he was in hospital, was one of the killers.

Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office in Srinagar by three terrorists. A fourth man was named as a suspect the same day; he was caught on camera taking away Shujaat Bukhari’s mobile phones. The police have, however, not found any connection to the killing and think he is a drug addict. The murder of the senior journalist in broad daylight in the heart of Srinagar left not just Jammu and Kashmir sent shockwaves throughout the nation.

The police have also identified a Pakistan-based blogger who ran a vicious campaign against Shujaat Bukhari and other journalists. The blogger is suspected to be from Srinagar. Mr Bukhari played a vital role in the government’s track 2 diplomacy with Pakistan. He was part of informal peace talks on Kashmir with Pakistani representatives held in Dubai last year.