Peace gets a hard blow
Indian journalist Syed Shujaat Bukhari, editor of the prestigious newspaper ‘Rising Kashmir’ and tireless fighter in favor of peace, was killed along with two of his bodyguards in the city of Srinagar, capital of Jammu and Kashmir. According to police sources, the man was killed by three hit men on motorcycles just outside his office.
The news has shaken India, not just for being an injustice, but because the crime coincides with the publication of a report that lists violations of the human rights of India and Pakistan in the areas administered by both powers. According to police sources, the well-known journalist was killed moments after leaving his office, located in the center of the Indian city. At the moment two photographs of the murderers, captured by a security camera, have been distributed.
It is well known that Bukhari had police protection for almost 20 years and was a strong advocate of peace as a solution to a conflict that has confronted two nuclear powers for decades in one of the most militarized areas of the world. Last year he joined the Indian delegation that had an informal meeting with Pakistani representatives.
The crime coincides with the talks held to prolong the ceasefire declared by India a month ago. The region was experiencing a unilateral cessation of violence during Ramadan; After April was very violent, being the first month of peace since 2000. Upon hearing the news, the head of the regional government, Mehbooba Mufti, described the murder of Bukhari as an extremely shocking news.
It is worth noting that the murder occurred only a few hours after the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published the first report on the situation of human rights in the region administered by India. The document details all the abuses committed in the Kashmir region, so much for the part of Pakistan like for India, since both powers administer that area. It also highlights that the violations made by India have different caliber and magnitude.
About that nation stands out the excessive force used by the authorities since in July of 2016, the repression of the continuous protests caused half hundred of deaths and dozens of wounded. According to the report, from that date and until last March around 145 civilians have been murdered by the forces of security.
