Pliant Indian SC orders trial of 6 Kashmiris despite acquittal by IIOJK HC
New Delhi: In yet another depiction of the pliant judiciary under Modi-ruled India, the country’s Supreme Court has paved the way for the prosecution of six Kashmiris in a false case in which they were earlier exonerated by the High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the six individuals are accused of carrying out the failed car suicide bomb attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Banihal in March 2019. Those arrested in the case include Amin, Umar Shafi, Aqib Shafi Shah, Wasim Ahmed Dar, Hilal Ahmad Mantoo and Shahid Ahmad Wani.
A bench of justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti set aside the April 2021 judgment of the IIOJ&K high court, which had affirmed a trial court order to exonerate the six persons on account of a procedural lapse in initiating their prosecution.
The top court said that the procedural lapse was a curable one, putting the authorities concerned at liberty to grant approval for the prosecution of the six Kashmiris under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by following the prescribed procedure.
