KL Report
SRINAGAR
The management of The Dainik Jagran, on behalf of CEO Sanjay Gupta, paid an ex-gratia relief of Rs 9 lac to Shafat Sidiq’s family, Photo-Journalist, who died on 7 September 2014 while covering flash floods near Lal Chowk Srinagar, a statment issued here said on Monday.
Pertinently, Shafat while performing his professional duty was caught in ravaging waters and his body was retrieved on 11 September near Batamaloo, four days after his death.
Shafat who is survived by aged parents, wife, two years old son and two sisters was working as a Photo-Journalist at The Dainik Jagran Srinagar Bureau for the last nine years, the statement informed.
“The relief cheque was handed over by Abhimanyu Sharma, General Manager Jammu and Kashmir and Navin Sharma Bureau head Srinagar in presence of former Legislative Assembly Speaker J&K and local MLA Mubarak Gul to the next of kin of deceased at his residence today,” the statement informed.
President press photo journalists association Kashmir Farooq Javed, Senior photo journalists Habib Naqash, Nissar ahmad, Mukhtar Khan, Qazi Irshad, Suhail Hameed, Firdous Rahi, senior members of Mohalla committee and civil society members including noted poet and social worker Zareef Ahmad Zareef and renowed writer Meraj-Ud-Din Miskeen were also present on this occasion.
Press photo journalists association Kashmir, Mohalla committee civil society and MLa Mubarak Gul hailed the move of Dainik Jagarn.
Meanwhile Kashmir Press Photographers Association (KPPA) Monday commended daily Hindi newspaper, The Dainik Jagran for providing the monetary benefit to the family of deceased senior Photo-Journalist Shafat Siddiqui, a statement issued by the association said.
The president of the KPPA said, “Siddiqui as a person will be indeed missed by the fraternity but the help offered by the Dainik Jagran is appreciable”.
He said this shows the photojournalists are not alone when they are discharging their professional services.
“Death is inevitable but at least one has the satisfaction that photographer’s family will not suffer because their bread earner is not with them,” Farooq Javed Khan, President Kashmir Press Photographers Association, said.
