Hundreds of people, including politicians across the political divide, participated in the last rites of journalist Shujaat Bukhari in Kashmir on Friday.
A large gathering of mourners started assembling at Bukhari’s hometown of Kreei in Baramulla district early in the morning.
He was laid to rest in the ancestral graveyard around 11 a.m., as thousands offered funeral prayers despite heavy rain.
Bukhari, 50, is survived by his wife and two children.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah, who participated in the funeral, said, “The killing is as an assault on moderation, sanity and the very essence of democracy ... A speedy probe into the killing should be carried out and the gvernment must ensure that the culprits are brought to justice as soon as possible.”
Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and Minister Naeem Akhtar said, “He was a lover of peace and made always relentless efforts for it. Those elements need to be identified and punished who want to rob Kashmir of its rich intellectual property.”
Senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz was present.
The front page of Rising Kashmir, a day after Bukhari’s murder.
Separatist leaders, including Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik, and Professor Abdul Gani Bhat attended the funeral.
“I prayed for the departed soul’s heavenly abode and for patience to the bereaved family,” Mr. Malik said.
Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq held special funeral prayers in absentia at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.
“Thousands at Jamia Masjid remembered Bukhari with moist eyes. People’s participation in the martyrs funeral prayers in absentia is a strong disapproval and condemnation of this dastardly act,” said the Mirwaiz.
He said the killing was an assault on freedom of expression and speech and a cowardly act to silence meaningful voices. “Bukhari was not only a great journalist and intellectual but a well-wisher of his people. It is heartening that Pakistan and India and people in Kashmir condemned it but then the question is who is behind such crimes? We all want to know who these assailants are?” he said.
