Srinagar, Jun 14: Veteran journalist and founder-editor of the daily newspaper Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, was remembered on his eighth death anniversary on Saturday, with political leaders, journalists, civil society members and social activists paying tributes to his legacy and contributions to journalism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several of Bukhari’s friends, colleagues and well-wishers visited his ancestral village Kreeri in Baramulla district, where they offered prayers at his grave and recalled his role in promoting dialogue, balanced reporting and peace-building efforts in the region.
Speakers at various commemorative events described Bukhari as a respected journalist whose work continues to inspire many. They said his contributions to journalism and public discourse remain alive in the memories of those who knew him and followed his work.
Senior journalist Zafar Choudhary said Bukhari’s death remained a significant loss for Kashmir and the media fraternity.
“Every year on this day, I think of the conversations left unfinished, the stories left unwritten, and the friendship that ended too soon. Time has not made the loss easier; it has only made clearer what Kashmir, journalism, and all of us lost that evening in Srinagar,” Choudhary said.
He said Bukhari believed in dialogue and the power of the written word, adding that the values he stood for continue to endure despite attempts to silence him through violence.
Meanwhile, KNS chief Mohd Aslam Bhat also paid tributes to Bukhari and prayed for eternal peace for the departed soul.
Bukhari was killed on June 14, 2018, when unidentified gunmen opened fire on him outside his office in Srinagar’s Press Enclave as he was leaving for home ahead of Iftar. He and his two personal security officers were killed in the attack.
His assassination drew widespread condemnation from media organisations and press freedom groups across the world, including the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, which described the killing as a major blow to independent journalism in the conflict-hit region.KNS
