The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for his involvement in the Hawal acid attack on February 1, 2022.

According to details obtained by the news agency KNO, the court of Principal Sessions Judge Srinagar, Jawad Ahmed, announced the sentence against the main convict, Sajid Sheikh, a resident of Dalgate, who was found guilty under IPC sections 326-A for the brutal acid attack.

Alongside the life sentence, he has been ordered to pay a fine of Rs 40 lakh, enforceable from his assets as per section 421 (1) (b) of the Indian Penal Code.

Reflecting on the severity of the offence and the profound impact on the victim's life, both physically and emotionally, the court deemed the maximum punishment necessary to ensure justice. The fine imposed serves not only as a punitive measure but also as a means to aid the victim's ongoing medical treatment and recovery.

The case has been recommended to the Member Secretary, J&K Legal Service Authority to provide the maximum compensation under the J&K Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019.

In accordance with legal procedures, Sajid Sheikh has been informed of his right to appeal against the verdict. He has also been informed that copies of the judgment and sentence order will be provided to him at no cost.

“The court's decision underscores a resolute stance against acts of violence, particularly those causing irreparable harm. It reaffirms the commitment to hold individuals accountable for their actions, sending a clear message that such atrocities will not be tolerated in society,” said a local while reacting to the court's decision.

SRINAGAR — Two persons were on Thursday convicted to life imprisonment in Kashmir capital Srinagar for attacking a female law student with acid in 2014. The court of Principal District and Sessions Court Srinagar Jawad Ahmed had reserved the verdict on the weekend.

The accused duo, who were given lifer, are Irshad Ahmad Wani alias Sunny, a resident of Wazirbagh area of uptown Srinagar and Muhammad Umar Noor of Bemina Srinagar.

The court found them guilty of the offence under RPC’s Sections 326-A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid), 201 (destroying evidence) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

The incident was reported from Nowshera Srinagar on December 11, 2014 when the two convicts threw acid at a female law student outside the Law College. "The victim had sustained injuries and had undergone various surgeries after the attack. At present, the victim practices law."

According to the chargesheet filed by the investigating team, constituted by the then IGP Kashmir Abdul Gani Mir under the supervision of then SSP Srinagar Amit Kumar with then SP Rayees Mohammad Bhat (presently DIG South Kashmir) as in-charge of SIT, one of the accused had threatened to spoil victims life as she had resisted of stalking her.

The court said that it finds that the prosecution has been able to establish the charges against the accused persons beyond any reasonable shadow of doubt and further, it also found that the defense lawyer has no material in defense of his clients.

The convicts, who are already in jail, will now face life imprisonment.

SRINAGAR — A bail application for a Child in Conflict with Law (CICL) accused in the Srinagar acid attack case was rejected by Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) Srinagar on Wednesday.

Sources told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that the JJB Srinagar, after hearing defence counsel and additional public prosecutor Zafar Iqbal Shaheen, said that it would defeat the ends of justice by granting bail to the accused at this time in FIR No. 08/2022 U/S 326-A of IPC that was registered in Police Station Nowhatta.

The Board said that they have rejected the bail after taking into consideration a wide array of things including the gravity of the charge, the circumstances in which the offence was alleged to be committed, its impact on society and the victim's family etc.

"The release of the accused at this juncture of CICL on bail will not serve the ends of justice. Rather, his placement at Observation Home, Harwan, Srinagar is in his best interest at this juncture as he has shown signs of reformation which shall continue for the time being," JJB said.

The juvenile accused is 17-years-old in this case and was riding pillion on a Scooty when the main accused, as per police, threw acid on the face of a woman in Downtown Srinagar.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Srinagar Police headed by SP North Raja Zuhaib had submitted a 1,000-page charge sheet against all the accused in the case.

The victim, whose identity is not to be disclosed as per court order, was attacked in Eidgah area of Srinagar by two people on February 1, including a juvenile, who wanted to "teach her a lesson and take revenge" on her for spurning a marriage proposal.