The government has continued the crackdown on the separatist elements in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. In what comes as a major blow for the separatist leaders in the state, it has been reported the CBI has sought transfer of a 30-year-old case against the terrorist turned separatist leader, JKLF chairman, Yasin Malik to Jammu wing of the High Court. The case involved the kidnapping of the then Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed’s daughter, Rubaiya Sayeed.
14 years after this, the then JKLF Vice-Chairman, Javed Mir admitted that the organization had carried out the abduction. He also disclosed that Yasin Malik and Ashfaq Wani were also involved in the kidnapping. Another case against Yasin Malik involves the murder of four Indian Air Force Officers in the state of Kashmir. As per the FIR, unidentified terrorists had fired upon Air Force personnel. Five IAF officers were martyred in the dastardly attack.
CBI counsel who has filed the transfer application before Srinagar wing of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court contended that the main accused, Yasin Malik is an influential person in the state and that he could influence the proceedings of the trial. The petition read, “…hence in order to ensure effective adjudication of the matter it would meet the ends of justice if the matter is transferred to Jammu wing of High court.”
The CBI had taken over the investigation of the case in accordance with a notification of the state government. Chargesheet had been filed on August 31, 1990 by the CBI. The accused were booked under Section 120B read with Section 302 of the RPC, Section 3 and 4 of the TADA and Section 27 of the Arms Act. During the course of the trial, the accused filed a transfer application before the High Court at Srinagar. The proceedings stayed as the Court is hearing the transfer application.
Therefore, the investigative agency seems to be moving ahead in this case with renewed vigor. It has been thirty years since this trial is pending and this amounts to a grave miscarriage of justice. The nation is on the boil ever since the Pulwama terror attack and the consequent airstrikes. And the government is now not going to let those who have been for responsible for the precarious situation of Kashmir go unpunished. CBI moving ahead quickly on this case might just turn out to be the turning point in the fight against terrorism in Kashmir.