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Thousands bid tearful adieu to slain Kashmiri journalist (Roundup)
By Sarwar Kashani
Kreeri (Jammu and Kashmir), June 15 (IANS) Police on Friday arrested a suspect in the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, who was on Friday laid to rest in this north Kashmir village as thousands of mourners braving heavy rains bid an emotional adieu to one of the most popular scribes in the state.
Bukhari was shot dead on Thursday evening along with his two police guards outside his newspaper office in Press Enclave near Srinagar’s Lal Chowk.
The shocking murder has triggered a state-wide manhunt as police claimed to have arrested one of the suspects – a man with flowing beard, sporting a skull cap.
Pictures and a video shot minutes after the murders showed the man may have been the first to reach the murder spot and was trying to help the injured in Bukhari’s car after militants fired a volley of gunfire at him.
The man is seen kneeling down to collect something near the car. Police sources said he may have picked up a pistol of Bukhari’s personal security officer after which he disappeared from the site.
Police sources said the suspect was most likely part of the team of assassins. “He has been arrested and his interrogation is going on,” a source said.
Police said the suspect, who has not been named, may hold a key link to the fatal attack on Bukhari, the founding editor-in-chief of “Rising Kashmir” English language newspaper.
Nobody among the journalist fraternity could immediately recognize who the man is in the video. The nearly one-acre colony houses offices of many local, national and international news organisations and journalists and non-journalistic staff working there know each other.
On Thursday evening, police in Srinagar released CCTV footage of the alleged attackers, asking people to help to identify the accused. The footage showed three masked men escaping on a motorcycle from the Press Enclave.
State police chief S.P. Vaid told reporters in Srinagar on Friday: “Rest assured, we will get the killers.”
In Kreeri town in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district where Bukhari was born 50 years ago, mourners took out a long and winding procession pay homage to the journalist during his last rites.
A pall of gloom enveloped Bukhari’s ancestral hometown on the eve of Eid – Muslim festivity that marks the end of month of fasting.
Kreeri and nearby villages observed a spontaneous strike during the funeral with all shops shut. People thronged in droves, many crying loudly and many more beating their chests, as Bukhari wrapped in a white shroud was lowered in the grave.
His elderly father, Syed Rafi ud Din Bukhari, led the mourners. The senior Bukhari was crying unconsolably, sitting on the grave as people jostled to throw customary handfuls of soil into to fill the pit grave.
The mourners included senior ministers in the Jammu and Kashmir government, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Altaf Bukhari and Naem Akthar, several legislators, former Chief Minister and National Conference President Omar Abdullah, senior Congress leader Saifuddin Soz, journalists and people from all sections of the society.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also went to Kreeri and offered her condolences to the family at Bukhari’s home with women members of the family.
Bukhari, 50, was gunned down on Thursday evening soon after he got into his car from his office. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
–IANS
sar/mr
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.