Srinagar: Mian Abdul Qayyum, former president of the Kashmir chapter of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association (JKHBA), has been charged with murder as an act of terrorism, accused of involvement in a conspiracy to kill a fellow lawyer.
The Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Thursday filed a 340-page supplementary chargesheet against Mr. Qayoom in the Babar Qadri murder case in a special NIA court in Jammu, claiming that an in-depth investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). It was revealed that he (Mr. Qayyum) “had hostile relations with the deceased and killed him through terrorists. Resistance Front (TRF) and their handlers hatched a criminal conspiracy in Pakistan. J&K Police claims that TRF is an off-shoot of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Shoot it.
The 35-year-old Qadri, who is often in the limelight for his prime-time shows and debates on Kashmir on various TV channels, was targeted by unidentified gunmen on September 24, 2020, at his residence in Hawal area of Srinagar. Shortly before he was murdered. , Mr. Qadri launched a political party called the Al-JK People’s Justice Party and named himself as its chairman. After this, the JKHCBA suspended his membership for showing ‘discipline’.
Days before he was killed, Mr Qadri, who had been an outspoken critic of the JKHCBA leadership, had expressed concern about his safety, particularly targeting Mr Qayyum. In a Facebook video posted days before his assassination, Mr Qadri accused Mr Qayoom of suppressing dissent and turning the JKHCBA into a mouthpiece for the Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference faction.
Mr Qayoum, 80, one of the most prominent and prominent lawyers who served as president of the JKHCBA for 20 terms between 1986 and 2019, was arrested by the SIA in June this year after “substantial evidence was collected against him”. “
Mr. Qayyum, known for his close association with Islamist and pro-Pakistan separatist leader Mr. Geelani, died on September 1, 2021 at the age of 91 after a long illness, after he was shot and critically injured by two unidentified men in Srinagar. Residence on April 22, 1995. He was jailed several times in the past after being removed by the Centre. The erstwhile state of J&K was given its special status and was bifurcated into two Union Territories in August 2019. He has often been accused of engaging in anti-Indian political activities and openly supporting the separatist cause. The SIA has said that the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference wants to retain control over the JKHCBA through Mr. Qayyum.
In a statement, the SIA said a case was registered under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 7/27 of the Indian Arms Act and Sections 13, 16,18,20 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The UAPA was registered in 2020 and was investigated by an SIT headed by IGP Kashmir and SP Hazratbal (Srinagar).
“The SIT conducted the investigation and filed a charge sheet against the six accused in the Special NIA Court, Srinagar on May 6, 2021. Thereafter, further investigation u/S 173 (8) CrPC was initiated by SDPO Zadibal. However, on July 20, In 2023, PHQ J&K handed over the further investigation of the case to SIA J&K after which an SIT was formed, which specifically identified the major behind the murder. was tasked to uncover the conspiracy,” the statement said.
It added that the SIT took over the investigation and on the basis of sufficient oral, documentary and technical evidence arrested Mr. Qayyum as the main conspirator behind Qadri’s killing on June 25, 2024.