Shujaat Bukhari killed: Tributes pour in for Rising Kashmir editor: 'Gentle in demeanour, a bridge between hostile groups'

Tributes are pouring in for Shujaat Bukhari, Rising Kashmir newspaper editor shot dead at close range Thursday evening by unidentified gunmen in Srinagar. This wasn't the first attack on Bukhari though; he was given police protection after an attack on him in 2000.Friends and colleagues whose paths crossed with Bukhari's remember him as "anything but polite" and a "formidable reporter". Historian Ramachandra Guha describes Bukhari as "gentle in demeanour, a bridge between hostile groups" hours before Bukhari was confirmed dead. Across the political aisle too, messages streamed in throughout the night: Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: "I’m anguished to hear about the killing of Shujaat Bukhari, editor of @RisingKashmir. He was a brave heart who fought fearlessly for justice and peace in Jammu & Kashmir. My condolences to his family. He will be missed."Omar Abdullah tweeted a picture of Rising Kashmir's latest edition: "This is a shameful act. Media is free in India. The state govt and the central govt are committed for the freedom of press in the country and the state", Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said.Bukhari was attacked from close range while in his car near the Rising Kashmir newspaper office in the Press Enclave area of Residency Road. Bukhari was on his way home after an Iftar party at the office. “Three motorcycle-borne militants came and fired at Bukhari and his guards", state police chief SP Vaid said. [caption id="attachment_4511841" align="alignleft" width="380"] File picture of Shujaat Bukhari. Picture courtesy, Bukhari's Facebook page[/caption]One of Bukhari's guards was also killed in the attack and another is critically injured, police said.No group has claimed the killings but Jammu and Kashmir police told ANI that Shujaat Bukhari's killing was a "terror attack" based on its preliminary investigation.Hours before he died, Bukhari tweeted a Rising Kashmir report headlined: 'First-ever UN human rights report on Kashmir calls for international inquiry into multiple violations'.Before taking the helm at Rising Kashmir, Bukhari worked as bureau chief of The Hindu..