The Hindu JK correspodent escapes abduction

Srinagar, June 11: The Srinagar-based correspondent of 'The Hindu', Shujaat Bukhari, escaped the clutches of some unidentified gunmen who first abducted him and later attempted to shoot him here last night, family sources said today.

They said Mr Bukhari had a 'miraculous escape' as one of the gunman's pistol got locked and could not open the fire.

Giving details, the sources said the gunmen abducted Mr Bukhari at Lal Chowk at 1945 hrs last evening.

He was taken to Eidgah in an auto-rickshaw where the mobile phone of one of the gunmen rang and as he started talking on it the other kicked Mr Bukhari out of the vehicle and tried to open fire at him with his pistol from a close range, they added.

However, the pistol got locked and in the chaos Mr Bukhari ran for his life, the sources said.

He somehow managed to reach the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura and contacted his family members.

When tried to contact by UNI, Mr Bukhari's family members said he was still in a state of shock and unable to speak out of fear.

UNI