JAMMU: Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik, who is serving a life sentence in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in a terror funding case, appeared virtually in a special NIA court in Jammu on Wednesday in a case pertaining to the killing of Indian Air Force (IAF) officials.
The court fixed November 23 as the next date of hearing.
The NIA court on September 20 had issued Malik’s production warrants to the jail authorities after he sought to appear in person to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in two cases related to the killing of four IAF personnel and the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then union home minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, in 1989.
Senior advocate S K Bhat, who appeared on behalf of the prosecution, told reporters that a total of 10 accused were being tried with Yasin Malik, the main accused, appearing through virtual mode.
When asked about Malik’s physical/personal appearance, Bhat said that as per the Tihar Jail superintendent, an appeal related to Malik’s sentence in the terror funding case was pending before the high court and therefore he had to remain lodged in Tihar. “The special judge accepted the plea. Malik appeared virtually during the hearing. Now, he has to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses via virtual mode. Otherwise, his right to cross-examination will be closed,” Bhat said. He said one of the witnesses, V K Sharma, present in the court identified Malik and his other associates.
The special court in March 2020 had framed charges against Malik and six others for their alleged involvement in the killing of four unarmed IAF personnel in January 1990 at Srinagar’s Rawalpora.
The court fixed November 23 as the next date of hearing.
The NIA court on September 20 had issued Malik’s production warrants to the jail authorities after he sought to appear in person to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses in two cases related to the killing of four IAF personnel and the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then union home minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, in 1989.
Senior advocate S K Bhat, who appeared on behalf of the prosecution, told reporters that a total of 10 accused were being tried with Yasin Malik, the main accused, appearing through virtual mode.
When asked about Malik’s physical/personal appearance, Bhat said that as per the Tihar Jail superintendent, an appeal related to Malik’s sentence in the terror funding case was pending before the high court and therefore he had to remain lodged in Tihar. “The special judge accepted the plea. Malik appeared virtually during the hearing. Now, he has to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses via virtual mode. Otherwise, his right to cross-examination will be closed,” Bhat said. He said one of the witnesses, V K Sharma, present in the court identified Malik and his other associates.
The special court in March 2020 had framed charges against Malik and six others for their alleged involvement in the killing of four unarmed IAF personnel in January 1990 at Srinagar’s Rawalpora.