Six-year imprisonment awarded in 2021 Shopian encounter case

Shopian, Nov 18: A special NIA and UAPA Court for Kulgam and Shopian has sentenced Towseef Ahmed Thokar of Khawajapora Reban, Zainapora, to six years of imprisonment after holding him guilty in the 2021 Imam Sahab encounter case. The case was originally registered under FIR No. 25 of 2021 at Police Station Imam Sahab.

According to the case proceedings, the court concluded that Towseef was involved in offences punishable under Sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Section 307 of the IPC and Sections 7 and 27 of the Arms Act. The matter had been posted for sentencing on November 17, following which the punishment was formally announced.

The case is linked to an encounter on May 5, 2021, in Imam Sahab where three militants identified as Danish Ahmed Mir, Zahid Bashir and Umar Hassan Bhat were killed. Towseef was taken into custody from the encounter site and weapons were recovered from his possession.

The investigation was led by DySP Muhammad Ashrif Lissery who was then serving as DySP Operations Imam Sahab and is currently the SDPO Magam. The court recorded appreciation for both the investigation team and the prosecution, noting that they placed substantial material on record that stood the test of judicial scrutiny.

Special Judge Parvaiz Iqbal, while delivering the verdict, remarked that the increasing threat posed by militancy required a resolute judicial stance, though without compromising constitutional protections or the right to a fair trial.

The judgment notes that the prosecution succeeded in proving all charges beyond reasonable doubt, establishing Towseef’s involvement in attempted murder, unlawful possession of arms, committing and conspiring to commit a militant act and membership of a banned organisation.

The verdict was pronounced in open court in the virtual presence of the accused, the prosecution and the defence counsel, and a free copy of the judgment was handed over to the convict. (KNT)