The Jammu and Kashmir government has requested the Centre to approach the United States for help in collecting evidence in connection with the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari, Greater Kashmir reported on Wednesday. Bukhari, the founding editor of Rising Kashmir, was killed in Srinagar on June 14.

The police requested the state government to write to the Ministry of Home Affairs to invoke the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in the investigation, an unidentified official in the state’s home department told the newspaper.

“You [Centre] kindly take up the issue with the central authority of United States of America for collection of evidence required from social sites having services in USA,” the letter read, according to the official.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Swayam Prakash Pani confirmed that “MLAT has been processed” during the investigation. Investigators are also working to ensure non-bailable warrants against all accused in the case, a police official told Greater Kashmir.

On June 28, the state police had said that the accused in the murder were associated with militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The police also said that Sajjad Gul, a resident of Srinagar believed to be in Pakistan, had initiated an online hate campaign against Bukhari.

The Lashkar-e-Taiba has denied any role in the murder.