Bukhari’s killing aimed at ‘sabotaging’ J&K ceasefire

The Jammu and Kashmir Police suspect that Pakistan and Inter-Services Intelligence-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) "planned and systematically" eliminated Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari two days before Eid to sabotage extension of the ceasefire in the trouble-torn state.

A preliminary probe based on clues obtained from the CCTV footage near the Rising Kashmir office at Press Enclave, Srinagar, apparently points towards the involvement of dreaded LeT commander Naveed Jatt alias Abu Hanzullah, who had escaped in a dramatic way in February when a group of terrorists opened fire on cops escorting him near Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar. Jatt was brought to the hospital for treatment from Srinagar's Central Jail, where he had been lodged since 2016.

The CCTV footage shows three men on a Bajaj Pulsar with the rider wearing a helmet, the first pillion rider probably hiding guns inside a sack and the last one masking the lower half of his face. The man with the sack is suspected to be Jutt.

The other two men are suspected to be LeT's Fahad Waza and Mehrajuddin Bangroo, both from Srinagar. Bangroo, who is one of the most-wanted militants, is a primary recruiter for LeT and involved in killings of several security forces.

Sources said that the killing was planned and executed systematically two days before Eid to sabotage extension of the ceasefire. The Centre was considering extending the ceasefire, declared during Ramzan a peace overture to Kashmiris. Now, further suspension of Army operations will no longer be possible since the atmosphere is not right, sources added.

Intelligence agencies have found some online material critical of Bukhari, who had written in favour of the ceasefire. He was on the hit list of terror groups like Hizbul Mujahideen even last year.

Also Read : Ramzan Ceasefire will not be extended: J&K Deputy CM Kavinder Gupta

Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, the 47th Corps Commander of Srinagar-based 15 Corps-also called the Chinar Corps-told India Today that Bukhari's killing was planned. "It was definitely sponsored by agencies from across the border. They [ISI-backed terror outfits] were uncomfortable by peace overtures made by government to the Kashmiris."

General Bhatt also said that despite repeated claims by Islamabad that it is not involved in infiltration of terrorists into J&K, it has the blessing and support of the Pakistani military.

Union minister of state for home affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir told the media on Friday that Bukhari's killers won't be spared and ceasefire does not mean "we will not respond to violations".

Also Read: Shujaat Bukhari murder: Suspect who picked up gun arrested

Stating that the Centre has taken several initiatives to bring peace to J&K, Ahir said, "The Centre experimented with the idea of withdrawing cases against first-time stone-pelters and suspended counter-insurgency operations during Ramzan. The people of Kashmir are happy and they want the (security) operations to remain suspended. We are committed to keeping the people happy and safe and secure our country from any kind of threat. We will do whatever is needed to achieve that goal."

The Centre would decide extending the suspension of operations in the Valley, Ahir said, adding, "We want peace; we are not trigger-happy. But that does not mean we will not respond to ceasefire violations".

Also Read: Shujaat Bukhari was victim of collective negligence: P Chidambaram

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