Senior journalist and Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead by three terrorists outside his office in Srinagar this evening. The terrorists, who came on a motorcycle, shot at Mr Bukhari from close range just as he got into his car along with his personal security officers or PSOs. One of the PSOs has also died. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said "The scourge of terror has reared its ugly head on the eve of Eid."
Condolences have been pouring in on Twitter for Shujaat Bukhari:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who rushed to the spot and was seen in tears, tweeted her condolences to Shujaat Bukhari's family.
He also tweeted quoting one of the late journalist's tweets:
Home Minister Rajnath Singh also tweeted condolences and called the killing an act of "cowardice". Mr Singh called him a courageous and fearless journalist and called the horrific act an "attempt to silence the saner voices of Kashmir."
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi expressed grief and anguish at the senior journalist's shooting and tweeted:
The Press Club of India also sent out a statement condemning the killing of Shujaat Bukhari and extended its condolences to his family. The statement read:
Press Club of India strongly condemns the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, Editor of Rising Kashmir,by a group of terrorists in Srinagar on Thursday evening... Terror attack that took Shujaat Bukhari's life shows that lives of journalists are not at all safe. Forces inimical to restoring peace in Kashmir Valley have silenced a voice of reason, logic and peace.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted her condolences and said she was "saddened and shocked" at his killing. Calling the act brutal, she said it was "terrible" to have happened hours before Eid.
National General Secretary of BJP Ram Madhav also tweeted about the shocking incident and called it a "reprehensible and condemnable cowardly act of terrorists."
The Editors Guild of India also tweeted condemning the assassination and called it a "grave attack on press freedom and democratic voices."
Many renowned journalists also tweeted their condolences with Shekhar Gupta calling the loss of the "brave" editor "heartbreaking". He also called the assassination a "loss of Kashmiris, India and the whole journalistic community."
"Demand Of Every Patriotic Indian Is...": Rahul Gandhi On Doda Terror Attack Omar Abdullah's Wife Gets Supreme Court Notice Over Leader's Divorce Plea Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Released From AIIMS After Being Admitted Over Back Pain Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Called Cops Home, Spoke For 2 Hours "Demand Of Every Patriotic Indian Is...": Rahul Gandhi On Doda Terror Attack 3 Police Snipers Spotted Trump Attacker Minutes Before He Opened Fire This "Premium Quality" Room In Delhi Is For Rs 10,000 A Month. See Pic Farmers Prep For March To Delhi After Haryana Told To Remove Roadblocks Not Trump, Biden Dialled Widow Of Rally Shooting Victim. She Didn't Pick Up Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.