WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2018 DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU daily Excelsior Established 1965 Shujaat's killing: Pushing Kashmir to 90s? Founder Editor S.D. Rohmetra K B Jandial who are betraying Kashmir serious political implication, the happens on ground." He was sive processes and understands and foreign well known journal- struggle" and "India's infiltration stunning news of Shujaat's cold always critical of Delhi for creat- that it takes time in order to ists and media bodies on his t times, realities become through media houses to pro- blooded killing was received ing "trust deficit" between Delhi achieve this". assassination on his killing incredibly strange. mote Indian version of Kashmir with shock and disgust. He was and Kashmir. He was very cau- It evoked rage from militant unfolded insight of Shujaat's State Disaster Response Force Recently, one such A struggle". These are part of it's one of the few self-respecting tious about criticizing separatists groups especially Hizbul professionalism and helpful strange reality was agonizingly hrough these columns, many a time we have their venomous propaganda and proud Kashmiri journalists, and Pakistan. Even though Mujahedeen which criticised it qualities. seen in Kashmir. A powerful made it clear that disasters do not visit only unleashed against Kashmiri who had defended the 'objectivi- enthused by announcement of as motivated and aimed at Back home, political leaders, voice of versatile senior journal- scribes, some of whom they ty' of Kashmir press at every unilateral Ramzan ceasefire he "undermining the Kashmiri sep- friends, colleagues, fans, civil Tafter warning us well in advance and that our ist, Shujaat Bukhari, in support dubbed as the ones who "betray forum, be it at State, national or impressed upon the separatists aratist movement". In an inter- servants and acquaintances response should be professional, specialized, imme- of unilateral ceasefire in the very blood that runs in their international level. He was the and militants through his news- view to the Pakistani Urdu daily besides known faces among sep- Kashmir as part of a peace initia- diate and effective. Does our State have the requisite veins by selling the sacrifices". only multi-lingual and highly paper the need for their positive State Views, Salahuddin repri- aratists gave him a befitting bur- tive, was silenced by the mili- infrastructure for meeting the challenges of the natu- This is enough to unnerve the articulate Kashmiri journalist response to it in pursuit for last- manded the participants for ial at his native Kereeri which it tants and his brutal killing media whose growing voices who had endeared himself to ing peace. Has his yearning for being on the "payrolls" (of an had never seen earlier. The var- ral fury? Have we developed a culture of prevention became one of the grounds to against mindless spilling of every group or individual that peace in Kashmir cost him his unspecified institution) and "for ied composition of mourners and preparedness to evolve a prompt and effective revoke it by the Govt of India. blood, pointing fingers also came into contact with him as a life? If ushering peace in backstabbing and conspiring speaks volume about his popu- So colossal is the impact of response when the minute of reckoning comes? towards militants, separatists journalist or peace activist, and larity in the society across the Shujaat's gruesome killing that Kashmir is a sin then Shujaat against the separatist movement Preparedness is the hallmark of the entire gamut of and their mentor, Pakistan. India perhaps, that gave him a confi- board which the militants could even the PDP-BJP alliance in was a big sinner! in the Valley". The Lashkar-e- bashing in the media is an old dence, which alas proved mis- scare by their despicable act. disaster response. J&K collapsed with BJP with- Knowledgeable people Taiba, too, had endorsed story. A serious challenge has placed, that no harm would It was satisfying to see the As per a survey, as many as thirteen districts of the drawing support on the ground including his contemporaries in Salahuddin's take on the Dubai been thrown to media fraternity come to him. Be it the State, commitment of Shujaat's griev- of deteriorating militancy situa- the media have been talking conference. State of Jammu and Kashmir are prone to multitudi- of Kashmir. The next few weeks National, Pakistan or ing colleagues in RK They wrote tion of which this killing is a about his candid outpourings at Highly cultured and decent nous hazards but the available response at the dis- would be crucial to see how the International level, he made cer- in the newspaper, "We won't be glaring example. Track II Dubai meeting from human being, Shujaat had a huge conspirators would make the tain points steadfastly with con- cowed down by the cowards posal of the State is not congruent to the demanding Besides being against the July 31 -Aug 02, 2017 and some bank of his fans in the State, next move. viction. Defending 'objectivity' who snatched you from us. We tenets of Islam, the violent tend to link it with Shujaat's Delhi, Pakistan and abroad. His situations as anticipated or immediately during or Similar fear was injected into will uphold your principle of killing of Editor of Rising professional contacts ranged post occurrence of a natural disaster. The Union the media in early phase of mili- telling the truth howsoever Kashmir, litterateur and devout STRAIGHT TALK from the political leadership tancy in Kashmir when a frus- unpleasant it may be…" Ministry of Home Affairs has declared Jammu, Muslim, just before Iftar outside across the board, separatist lead- trated senior Editor of an Urdu of Kashmir reportage of conflict Hopefully, the RK would over- Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Budgam, Pulwama, his office on 14th June, 2018, on killing. It was organised by the ers, bureaucracy, army generals Daily, Gh. Mohd Sofi had to situation was a matter of convic- come this catastrophe and carry eve of holy Eid-ul-Fitr, is a turn- London based a NGO- and police officers, intellectuals, Anantnag, Leh, Kargil, Doda, Udhampur, Poonch and insert an "apology" on the front tion which he never diluted even forward Shujaat's mission for ing point in three-decade old ter- Conciliation Resources, in asso- thinkers, academicians on both Rajouri as areas prone to multi hazards .The man- page of his newspaper seeking while discussing it on one-to-one peace despite all odds. rorism which its perpetrators call ciation with the Kashmir sides of border. Many of these pardon from the "muhajideen basis. Knowing well that there is It is obvious that Pakistan's power of the State Disaster Response Force is nei- jihad. The message to media is Initiative Group. Members of professional contacts have trans- leaders" for his inability to no readymade solution to ISI and militant leadership espe- ther sufficient nor competent to deal with the situation loud and clear: fall in line or face civil society from India and formed into personal and family accommodate all of their press Kashmir situation, he pursued Pakistan including J&K on both relations. He was perhaps the cially across the border were whenever one is feared to occur. We have to address bullets. The terrorists and their notes on the front page as per the idea of dialogue which was mentors in Pakistan are trying to sides of the LoC participated. only Kashmiri journalist who unhappy with Shujaat Bukhari's two types of disasters, manmade disasters as well as their diktat. It only demonstrated his mission as he believed that it From J&K, those who participat- commanded so much respect in pro- peace activities which he take Kashmir back to early that the Editors had no power is only during frequent interac- natural calamities which need reasonably sufficient nineties by silencing the voice of ed in the meeting included Jammu. He has mastered the art was fully conscious. Similarly, trained and committed personnel. even to choose the place where tions some way forward could be Shujaat Bukhari and three other of making friends which too he was aware of the slanderous objectivity, rationality, sanity, press notes would be accommo- found. Agreed para- military forces, the BSF, the CRPF, dialogue and peace. By choosing Kashmiri journalists, representa- appeared to have become his campaign unleashed against him dated as per their professional Every killing in Kashmir, tives of NC, BJP, Congress & misdoings, creating unnecessary on the social media. it can't be CISF, ITBP, individually and as a combined National the Press Enclave in the heart of understanding. But then, it was more of locals, always left him Srinagar city for executing their Panther's Party and a civil socie- suspicions among militants and presumed that Shujaat was Disaster Response Force do come to the help of the Editors themselves who had sad. For many media persons ty activist. It had people from their handlers in Pakistan. unaware of the conspiracy being target killing, the militants have joined hands to break the shack- and analysts, these deaths are affected States but reaching the affected places and injected fear in the minds of Pakistan and PoK including Lt. Wherever he went - be it hatched against him especially les of suppression and started nothing more than mere cold sta- journalists against any 'adven- Gen. (Retd) Asad Durrani, ex- Kashmir, Jammu, Delhi, when Pak portal's articles were the people takes time which can be prevented by exercising their authority as tistics and they moved on. But ture' of free and independent ISI chief, Gen. (Retd) Ehsan-ul Pakistan or any other world city, circulated to many on what's raising adequate indigenous force at the State level. Editor. not for Shujaat; he was worried, thinking, truthful reporting and Haq, ex-chairman of Pakistan's people there took him as "their aap. Police too was in possession Being a co-traveller in that not only on account of blood- A proposal to raise two additional battalions of the pursuing peace agenda. The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, man" and this too contributed to of these. As A S Dulat revealed, eventful journey, a feeling shed but also on burgeoning State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was mooted journalists are, indeed, scared PoK's Legislative Assembly a tag of "betrayal" for some. he was aware of the security comes to me that Shujaat's assas- regional gaps between Kashmir and nonplus over what has hap- Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir, His journey from a small threat and he had met Mehbooba nearly more than three and a half years back but so sination has potential to push the and Jammu. Despite huge differ- pened to their friend, colleague, Abdul Rashid Turabi, a legisla- time journalist of Kashmir Times Mufti few days earlier to step up far, nothing has happened in this most important mat- local and national media to that ence of opinion on the basic and mentor for some. tor & head of Jamaat-e-Islami's, where he got the first lesson of his security. But the militants dreadful nineties once again. The issues, he pursued it to bring ter. To make things more fright- Convener of PoK's Hurriyat journalism from his mentor late State Govt must take appropriate prominent members of civil struck him before the security It is beyond one's comprehension as to even after ening for them, a Pakistan's non- (Mirwaiz faction), Faiz Ahmed Ved Bhasin to The Hindu and measures in consultation with society of both the regions clos- could be beefed up. Its delay in the clear cut instructions from by the Governor N .N. state actors' online portal, the media. The journalists too Naqshbandi and Convener of the then launching his own publica- itself is a serious security lapse Kashmir fight, is busy in floating er. Second such meeting is slated Kashmir Initiative Group, Irshad tions( in three languages) and Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and duly have to guard against these dan- in Kashmir on Sunday next. besides issues of institutional articles to denigrate the contribu- gerous trends in their own pro- Mahmud. internationally respected security in the Press Enclave. approved by the State Disaster Management tions of Shujaat Bukhari as a He would always defend The organizers had refrained Kashmir analyst and seminarian fessional interest. Since freedom Kashmir and Kashmiriyat, about While some elements are trying Authority things in this direction are not moving. journalist and named six well of speech and expression is soul from sharing the outcome of the is not without a hard work and to create suspicion about the reputed Kashmiri media persons which he was very passionate. meeting saying that "The dia- struggle. He is perhaps the first Whose concern is it that the existing strength of just of the journalists, its deprivation Hours before bullets riddled his killers, the Govt must stand by for their alleged pro-India activi- through the barrel of gun would logue meetings are an opportuni- journalist of J&K whose grue- the media at this critical moment two SDRF battalions is too inadequate to be effective ties to harm the 'movement'. At bodies, he defended his work in ty for participants to voice their some assassination has been so in dishing out quick and effective response in a con- lead to their "professional death" a tweet which was the last. He to prevent Pakistan and militants least, two articles have been much before their destined natu- thoughts but it is not a decision widely condemned and mourned to overawe the media to push posted on the portal, four weeks wrote, "In # Kashmir we have tingency. The State of Jammu and Kashmir should, ral death. making platform and do not have not only in J&K and India but them back to 90s situation. before Shujaat's killing with dis- done Journalism with pride and a partisan agenda. Conciliation also at international level. The on the contrary, aim at ensuring availability of such Apart from its subsequent (Feedback: [email protected]) paraging headings "The Touts will continue to highlight what Resources works towards inclu- tell-telling comments of Indian personnel beyond the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar. Besides, is there any itinerary, well chalked out and formulated, in respect of imparting professional Who killed Shujaat and why? Education of weaker sections training to the personnel of the existing force both at Shafiq Mir responsibility of this brutal mur- and some concerned quarters in der as done in other cases in the Islamabad were also informed Ram Rattan Sharma reserve 25 percent of seats for children with disabilities. In the State level as well as outside the State across the his is not surprising that children from the disadvantaged order to enforce the fundamen- past. On the following day,there in advance but no body cared. ndian Society is known for all columnists known for sections, the burden of which tal rights all the private and country? Even the structure and the entire chapter of was a sea of people in his funer- However, Ershad Mehmood its unity in diversity, but it writing columns of thou- will be brone by the Government schools are trainings keep on changing and the fact that a T al procession at his native vil- didn’t divulge the details that lacks quality in education, sands of words on daily basis I Government. Many private required to reserve atleast 25 lage Kareeri in Baramulla dis- which concerned quarters were employment, and income based Disaster Managing personal has been given the ele- and the journalists known for schools had opposed the move percent of their seats for the dis- trict of North Kashmir which informed in Islamabad. In his on caste and ethnicity despite saying that since they did not advantaged groups and the mentary and advanced training once should not doing investigative journalism included separatist leaders of another Facebook post, on june India being economic country. have suddenly gone silent over take grants from the weaker sections. The Act pro- make the authorities complacent. Instead, the per- the state beside opposition and 16,2018, (Eid Day) Ershad The Indian Government does not Government they could not be vides a bulk of incentives to the the brutal killing of veteran jour- rulling class of the pro-India Mehmood wrote an other provide free education as most sonal should be kept abreast of what was going nalist and ambassador of peace legally bound to reserve and also under privileged group that political parties and perhaps his detailed article in which he said of the schools were private the per-child cost as suggested results in unequal treatment of around in the field to build him or her into an effective Syed Shujaat Bukhari, because killers were also among the that the enmity against Shujaat schools, weaker sections could by the Government was very the children, but as the Govt. unit in preventing and mitigating the effect of the twin it is really dangerous to believe mourners. had gained momentum after he not afford higher education. As low the Government spends has emphasized there is a need against the belief of your ruler. typed disasters. Now the main question is had organised a conference of result, weaker section suffers between Rs.6,000 and Rs.18,000 to delink merit and talent from Here in the state of Jammu and who killed Shujaat Bukhari and cross LoC politicians and intel- from low educational attain- a child annually on elementary social and economic difference It is high time the State adopts the pattern of the Kashmir, the ruler is masked why ? Though Government has lectuals in Dubai last year in ment. Even if they are able to education and this will form the among different sections of National Disaster Response Force and ensures cre- “Gun Man”. Those who wrote blamed militants for this brutal 2017. He says with out any afford, they are discriminated. broad basis for reimbursement society and the act calls for ation of additional two SDRF battalions looking to the something since his brutal murder and constituted an SIT investigation, UJC chief Syed Language poses another chal- under the RTE, though the final moving towards composite killing took the safer side by lenge for tribals education. amount will vary from state to classrooms with children from fact that the existing two battalions have been sliced sepcial investigation team to Sllah u Din had issued a state- writing either his qualities or identify the shooters, who exe- ment in which he had declared Tribals normally speak local state. However, the Supreme diverse back grounds rather than of their sheen and strength due to no proposal read- pleading his innocence but no cuted the orders, however, all all the participants of Dubai dialect rather than the main lan- Court up held all provisions of homogeneous and exclusivist ied in respect of replacements of retirees or those body touched the real part of the major militant organisations conference as traitors and paid guage of the state in which they the Act and this will now help schools. story that who killed him. including united jihad council agents of Delhi. reside, and tribal students feel the Government in enforcing In order to uplift the society ones having crossed the age of 50 years and being the law effectively so that disad- there should be a level playing The story of story teller, and Lasker-e Toiba denied their And next day, LeT had also alienated, when the teachers are vantaged students can also have field for all. The Government not suitable and fit for the Force which calls for high Syed Shujaat Bukhari, Editor- involvement and put blame on threatened to teach lesson to all not well trained to communicate In-Chief daily Rising Kashmir access to good quality education should work towards building degree of physical fitness. Devastating floods of 2014 the Government forces. But the these traitors. Ershad Mehmood in their tribal dialects. news paper ends like this. As per The Indian Government has at the elementary level. infrastructure so as to train the should be a lesson enough to the State authorities to majority including local journal- says some time before Dubai Education is one primary underprivileged to have the reports, on 14th June 2018 at ists, activists and politicians started providing scholarships have full, effective, prompt and committed response about 7:30 PM or some minutes conference Shujaat had made a and other forms of financial aid area that needs focus as it is cru- expertise and skill so that they have gone silent fearing the telephinc call to him from cial to the development of a can also be a part of the healthy in readiness and creation of two additional battalions before two to three unidentified same fate which Shujaat met to reduce the cost of education, Srinagar that he was informed special schools and remedial country. A higher percentage of competition. Till the infrastruc- gun men came on motor bike because of speaking on such is a necessity rather than a matter of conjectures and by the Government agencies tutoring increase college pre- educated individuals contribute ture is built some incentives will and emptied full magzines of issues. dilly dallying policies. their guns on Shujaat Bukhari that his shoot orders have been paredness and reserved quotas in more towards the economy of have to be given, but these Here is an account which the country that in turn leads to schemes of carrot and sticks will when he was boarding his vehi- issued. “ Shujaat told me to talk competitive colleges are encour- tells volumes about Shujaat’s to Peer Sahib”. “With a little aging parents to educate their blossoming of the nation. Since not stand the test of time. A per- 2 battalions of women police force cle just outside his office in murder. If his close friends are it is a subject that has multiple son belonging to an unreserved s promised by Home Minister Rajnath Singh press enclave area of Srinagar in effort I managed meeting with children, thereby reducing mid- to be believed Shujaat knew in UJC chief Syed Sallahudin and dle and secondary school dimensions attached to it, some category has to put in lot of the heart of city. He died on spot aspects relating to it fall under effort to get what he aspires after the conclusion of his recent two day visit advance about a possible attack shared Shujaat’s apprehensions dropout, Reservations in Govt. along with his one security on his life and he had brought the union list where as the rest where as the reserved class gets to the State, Union Ministry of Home Affairs and sought his help. In his reply employment enhance returns to A guard while his second security this thing to the knowledge of under the concurrent list of the away with a little bit of hard- Syed Sallahudin told me that he educate weaker sections, even has accorded sanction for bearing the entire cost of guard died on way to hospital. authorities in the state of Jammu constitution of India. As a result, work. The saddest part about The news of attack on Shujaat was not such a low to issue the primary education can substan- both the union and the state are reservations is that the people Rs.105 crore for raising two battalions exclusively of and Kashmir. Soon after his tially enhance the earning poten- Bukhari spread like a wild fire killing on 14th June 2018, at shoot orders for a journalist. Ask empowered to make legislation who need to be targeted are still women in Jammu and Kashmir Police Force. It is one in the entire State of Jammu and Shujaat don’t worry”, reveals tial for weaker section because with respect to it. Education was out of the picture and it is the 8:28 pm, his close friend and they become eligible for lower time fund providing proposal to raise building, for Kashmir with in minutes. journalist from Rawalakote PoK Ershad Mehmood in his article. made fundamental right by the elite in the disadvantaged Thousands of hands were up for Ershad further says that for the level Govt. Jobs instead of rely- 86th constitutional amendment groups, who are reaping the mobility, arms and ammunition so that the structure wrote on his Facebook page that ing on sporadically available prayers but all in vein as he had Shujaat’s martyrdom is the past four months a strong cam- which introduced section 21-A benefits generation after genera- and the logistics etc are provided for such raising to already gone to the eternal manual labour in private sectors. in the constitution of India. tion. The target groups still sur- result of a negative campaign paign was launched against Children from the disadvan- circumvent any avoidable delays as it is in the initial peace. Most of the people came India joined the list of 135 coun- vive silently in the bushes of the launched against him on social Shujaat in social media describ- taged sections of society will stages in such matters, that delays are caused. to know about the stature of ing him as Delhi agent. He said tries that have legislation in deserted areas, which are still media. He said the ground was now have access to private place to implement it as a funda- out of bound. So the Shujaat Bukhari only after his some of such fake Facebook The note worthy feature of these two women bat- being prepared for his killing schools as the Supreme Court mental right to education Act Government will have to come death when mourning and con- adding that Shujaat had already account holders are putting up in has upheld the constitutional talions is that while as many as 2014 women would demning messages started pour- which finally came in to force in up with some innovative meas- informed him about the possible Rawalpindi and Islamabad. validity of the right of children 2010. Education has now been ure to contain the resentment of get employment in the State of Jammu and Kashmir, ing in from opposition to rulling attack on his life. He said, in this Nothing more to say. Rest In to free and compulsory educa- class of India and abroad. made compulsory and free for the masses 60 percent of posts would be reserved for women of connection, Shujaat had already Peace (RIP) Syed Shujaat tion Act, 2009. The Act makes it children in the age bracket of 6 (The author is former Dy Librarian Sensing the mood of the people informed the Government insti- Bukhari. mandatory for all schools, years to 14 years which is fur- University of Jammu) 10 border districts like Jammu, Samba, Kathua, back home, no body took the tutions in Srinagar about this [email protected] except minority unaided, to ther stretched to 18 years for [email protected] Poonch, Rajouri, Baramulla, Bandipore, Kupwara, Kargil and Leh. This is a part of series of welfare measures for the border residents, the other meas- Amarnath Yatra ures announced include enhancement in compensa- Sir, tion for the civilians killed in Pakistani shelling as also It has reference to the news "Amarnath Yatra vehicles to have RFID tags : CRPF'' Disaster in the making for the perished cattle compensation. We expect Sir, (DE, June 14, 2018). The concern shown by the security agencies for the welfare other measures too by both the State as well as the of the Amarnath pilgrims is a welcome step. But no such step shall be taken that Please let us inform the concerned authorities of Power Development Department, Nowshera and Rural Development Central Government for the border dwellers who face unknowingly makes them easy targets. Department Lamberi/Nowshera, Rajouri that the old and tall eculyptus (safeda) trees growing on land of Panchayat, Chak- lot many problems due to Pakistani misadventures. Not as a security expert but as a common man I feel that any such mechanism jaralan are likely to cause a disaster in the area. The very tall eculyptus trees hovering over the eleven KV HT line and The StateGovernment is now expected to proceed that helps security agencies to identify Yatra vehicles may be exploited by the ter- passing through our residential houses are a danger to us. The concerned authorities of both the departments have been rorists to target them as well. The issue needs to be viewed in that direction as well. ahead with the proposal and initiate necessary exer- informed and requested many times of the problem, but all in vain till date. It looks as if the concerned authorities are The safe conduct of Yatra is always relief giving but it should not be construed waiting for the disaster to happen and doing a post facto exercise. cise for the constitution of these two battalions. Only as a measure of normalcy. After conclusion of his visit, the Union Home Minister Besides, these trees are causing dehydration in the area and giving no benefit to anybody. On one hand the costly Gov- the recurring expenses like salaries etc are to be in the back drop of Ramzan ceasefire, described the valley situation as normal. If looked into nationalistic perspective, it is a fact that there was a drop in terrorist ernment land is being wasted for these useless trees while, on the other hand, heaps of garbage are also dumped beneath borne by the State Government. It may be underlined and civilian killings and protests but at the same time there was an increase in deaths the trees. The previous land is also being used as a open toilet for the labour settled in the area and it serves as a source that in all, nine police additional battalions are pro- of security personnel and attacks on security agencies. diseases and disorders in the area. To be short, there is no justification for maintaining these dangerous and harmful trees posed to be raised, the firm commitment and not It cannot be taken as a sign of normalcy. The Home Minister needs to intro- on the previous Government land. Rather, it is quite harmful not only to the area, but also to the department. So, the con- cerned authorities of both the departments of RDD and PDD are advised and requested to remove these odd trees well mere indication of which, was given by the Home spect. Normalcy cannot be viewed with the prism of successful tourist season, Amar- before any fatal incident. Minister during his recent visit to the State. Out of the nath yatra or its likes but in totality. Sooner realised the fact, the better it is. O P Sharma nine, two battalions are exclusively for women. Satish Mohan Pandit Bagnoti, Jammu Nowshera