Danish Siddiqui, the Indian photojournalist who was killed on duty in Afghanistan on Thursday, will be laid to rest in Jamia Millia Islamia graveyard. The university issued a statement on Sunday saying the Vice Chancellor has accepted the request of Siddiqui's family to bury his body in its graveyard.
"Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Vice Chancellor accepted the request of the family of late photojournalist Danish Siddiqui to bury his body at the JMI graveyard meant exclusively for university employees, their spouses and minor child," the university said in the statement.
Siddiqui had studied at AJK Mass Communication Research Centre (MCRC) from 2005 -2007. His father Akhtar Siddiqui was the Dean of Faculty of Education there.
"Danish was one of the brightest stars in our hall of fame and a proactive alumnus who kept returning to his alma mater to share with students his work and experiences. We will miss him deeply but are determined to keep his memory alive," the officiating director of AJK MCRC said.
Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner, was killed in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Thursday. He was on a reporting assignment and embedded with the Afghan special forces. Siddiqui was covering clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters near a border crossing with Pakistan in Spin Boldak.
Indian foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla condemned Siddiqui's killing in an attack by the Taliban during a meeting of the UN Security Council. "I extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family,” Shringla said on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}Indian foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla condemned Siddiqui's killing in an attack by the Taliban during a meeting of the UN Security Council. "I extend our sincerest condolences to his bereaved family,” Shringla said on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}The Taliban, meanwhile, denied role in the photojournalist's killing, a report claimed. “We are not aware during whose firing the journalist was killed. We do not know how he died," Taliban’s spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid told CNN-News18 on Friday.
Danish Siddiqui worked for the Reuters news agency.