Pays tribute to courageous editor who was mentor to young journalists, urges J&K government to quickly bring culprits to book.
New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India Thursday condemned the attack on Srinagar-based eminent journalist Shujaat Bukhari, calling him a courageous professional who had mentored a number of young journalists in the Valley. Bukhari, who was editor of Rising Kashmir, was shot dead by unidentified men Thursday evening.
“Bukhari was a voice of moderation and a courageous, big-hearted editor who mentored a large cadre of young journalists from Kashmir,” a statement issued by the Guild said.
In the statement, the Guild called upon the government of Jammu and Kashmir to take urgent steps to bring to book the culprits and ensure the safety and security of media personnel in the state.
“An attack on a journalist challenges the very foundations of a free press and vibrant democracy, and more so in a state like Jammu and Kashmir that is going through militancy,” the statement mentioned.
It further said the state and central government should enhance security for all journalists in Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking note of the spate of threats of violence against many journalists in different parts of the country, the Guild called Bukhari’s murder a new low in a “rapidly deteriorating environment for media practitioners in Kashmir,” and in the country in general.
“The Guild calls upon the Centre to take note of the developments and take necessary steps to ensure a situation where the media can discharge its duties without any fear of violence,” the statement said.