Kashmiri woman denied bail after six years in Pulwama case on flimsy grounds
Jammu: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has rejected the bail plea of Kashmiri woman Insha Jan alias Insha Tariq, who has remained imprisoned for more than six years in fake case registered against her after 2019 Pulwama attack, highlighting the continued use of draconian laws to keep Kashmiris behind bars for prolonged periods.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Special Judge Prem Sagar, in an order issued on August 20. The court invoked draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which imposes stringent restrictions on the grant of bail. Jan, a resident of Harkipora in Pulwama district, was arrested along with her father on March 3, 2020. She has remained in custody for over six years and faces charges under the UAPA, Arms Act, Explosive Substances Act and other provisions. Charges against her were framed in December 2022. The prosecution has accused her of providing food and shelter to the alleged accused in the February 2019 Pulwama attack.
The defence sought her release, citing prolonged incarceration, delays in the trial and health problems, including chronic skin ailments and cervical spondylosis. However, the NIA opposed the plea, describing her as a terror associate and stressing the gravity of the allegations. The court rejected the bail application, observing that her release could influence witnesses and that her medical condition was not life-threatening. It directed the jail authorities to ensure that she receives necessary medical treatment.
Rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over the misuse of such laws, under which allegations can keep accused Kashmiris imprisoned for years before their cases reach a final judicial determination. The prolonged detention of Jan, despite the passage of more than six years without a final verdict, underscores concerns over the denial of due process and the growing use of coercive laws against Kashmiris.
It is worth mentioning here that the Pulwama attack case has also drawn attention after former IIOJK Governor Satya Pal Malik publicly held that security lapses contributed to the attack. He also alleged that the Modi government failed to act on warnings before the incident. His remarks have continued to fuel demands for an independent and credible investigation into the circumstances surrounding the attack.
