The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has filed a comprehensive charge sheet against 12 individuals in connection with the brutal murder of Sanjay Sharma, a member of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
The crime took place at Achhan Pulwama on February 26, 2023, and the subsequent investigation revealed a broader conspiracy originating from across the border, an official statement said on Saturday. “The aim was to disrupt the revival of peace and communal harmony in the Valley, using the murder of an innocent person from the minority community to fuel communal disharmony and sustain terrorism,” it said.
The case was initially registered at Police Station Litter Pulwama and was later transferred to SIA Kashmir for specialized investigation. Upon taking over the case, SIA Kashmir conducted extensive searches across South Kashmir, unearthing physical and technical evidence.
“This evidence exposed the accused persons’ involvement in the crime, including providing logistical support, harbouring the accused, and concealing evidence,” the agency said.
During the course of investigation, SIA conducted five rounds of extensive searches at 32 locations across the Valley, during which mobile devices, bank documents and a pistol magazine and live cartridges were seized.
Eight out of the 13 accused, including three juveniles, are currently under judicial custody. Among the accused, Jazim Farooq Wani, Danish Hamid Thokar and Ubaid Ahmad Paddar were killed in encounters with security forces. Zaffar Hussain Bhat alias Khursheed Kashmiri and an individual by the alias of Khalid Kamran are absconding.
“The investigation unveiled that the accused individuals were acting on instructions from terror handlers across the border, maintaining communication via encrypted online messaging platforms. Notably, Jazim Farooq Wani, who pulled the trigger, received weapon handling training from Nassir Farooq Shah on the directives of Pakistani handler Kamran,” the statement said.
Comments
0 comment