The journalists paid glowing tributes to their slain colleague and editor-in-chief of Rising Kashmir Shujaat Bukhari in a condolence meeting here on Thursday.
The meeting was organized by Kashmir Working Journalists Association (KWJA).
Shujaat was assassinated along with his two personnel security guards outside his office at Press Enclave in Srinagar last week.
Many journalists had gathered at Information Department auditorium to pay their tributes to their slain colleague Shujaat.
On the occasion journalists described Shujaat as “multi-dimensional personality”.
Srinagar Bureau Chief of NDTV Nazir Masoodi, while recalling his association with Shujaat said: “by killing Shujaat Bukhari the assassins wanted to kill free thinking in Kashmir”.
Mufti Islah, Bureau Chief of CNNNews18 in Srinagar said: “We have mourned. Now the challenge is to focus on the future to think how to sustain the institutions that late Shujaat created”.
Peerzada Ashiq of The Hindu newspaper said: “Is creating space for a meaningful dialogue a crime? Should he (Shujaat Bukhari) have been killed for alternative thinking and creating a space for Kashmiris for dialogue?” asked Ashiq.
Journalist and political commentator Gowhar Geelani said: “killing someone for a view or idea is a deplorable act and part of regressive thinking”.
Journalist Sameer Yasir said: “Shujaat Bukhari was targeted in a brutal manner since his body of work highlighted the suffering and pain of Kashmiris at all platforms”.
Raashid Maqbool, a member of Rising Kashmir’s editorial staff said: “Shujaat would never discourage alternate thinking and support the staff despite personal or ideological disagreements”.
Faisul Yaseen political editor of Rising Kashmir said: “much before Shujaat’s killing the media in Kashmir had died its own death. He was a reporters’ editor”.
Masood Hussain editor of Kashmir Life sought suggestions from media fraternity to how to sustain independent media outlets in Kashmir.
Hakeem Irfan Rashid of The Economic Times moderated the proceedings and also led condolence prayer for Shujaat.