TADA court frames charges against Malik, six others
JKLF founder, other accused plead not guilty; case to be listed on March 30
JAMMU: A court on Monday framed charges against Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik and six others allegedly involved in the killing of four unarmed Indian Air Force (IAF) officials in 1990 in Kashmir.
“Five of the seven accused were produced before the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) court on Monday. The court has framed charges against all seven accused including Yasin Malik and Showkat Bakshi, who are lodged in Tihar and Ambedkar Nagar jails, respectively. Malik and Bakshi appeared before the court via video-conferencing,” said additional public prosecutor of the CBI, advocate Rakesh Singh.
“Copies of the charges have been sent to authorities at the Tihar and Ambedkar Nagar prisons against them,” he added.
“Yasin Malik and Showkat Bakshi pleaded not guilty and wanted trial. Five other accused also want trial. Now, the case will be listed on March 30,” he said, adding that the prosecution will initiate evidence after getting the signed copies of the charges from Malik and Bakshi.
On Saturday, the TADA court had said that there was enough prima-facie evidence for prosecuting Malik for involvement in the killing of the IAF officials.
Malik is the founder of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which the Indian government banned in March 2019.
Yasin Malik is also facing trial for the kidnapping of Rubaiyya Sayeed, daughter of then Unin Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed in December 1989.
He is presently lodged in
Tihar Jail at Delhi. Shalini Khanna, 70, wife of Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna, who was one among four slain IAF personnel, hoped that justice will finally be done to her and families of three other IAF men.
“The charges should have been framed 30 years ago. Trial is yet to start and it is not an easy task (to get justice). We all are seeing what is being done in Nirbhaya’s case. However, it is better late than never. Yes, the development has rekindled hope of justice and I strongly believe that justice will be done to me, families of those killed and to Yasin Malik as well”.
“Yasin Malik not only murdered Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna but also murdered my mother-in-law, my father-in-law and my mother. Childhood of my two small children was lost and our happiness was snatched away in a second.
This terrorist turned our world upside down,” Shalini Khanna had told Hindustan Times in September last year.The attack on the IAF men took place on January 25, 1990 at Rawalpora, Srinagar when terrorist fired on them injuring 40 and killing four.
Malik is also accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of Dr Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and sister of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, for the release of five members of the JKLF.
The charges should have been framed 30 years ago. Trial is yet to start and it is not an easy task (to get justice). We all are seeing what is being done in Nirbhaya’s case. However, it is better late than never. SHALINI KHANNA, 70, wife of Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna, who was among those killed