Srinagar BuzzBytes, Nov 18: In a significant development, a fast-track court in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has convicted Mushtaq Ahmad Pandith, also known as Bilal, for the murder of his wife Sameera Jan. The crime occurred in May 2011, and despite the accused’s defense of not being present at the scene, the court found him guilty under Section 302 of RPC.
Details of the Case:
Sameera Jan was discovered dead in their matrimonial house in Kralpora with a knife stabbed into her back. Following the crime, the husband fled, leading authorities on a chase that took him from Delhi to Jammu. He was eventually apprehended on May 13, 2011.
The Additional Sessions Judge (fast track), Budgam, Judge Aijaz Ahmad Khan, stated in the 90-page order, “Even though opportunity was provided to the accused, who has taken the defense of not being present on the spot on the day of occurrence, he has not been able to provide any circumstance to show that the accused was not present on the spot on the fateful day.”
Upcoming Proceedings:
The court is set to begin the sentencing phase on November 23, where the severity of consequences for Mushtaq Ahmad Pandith will be determined.
Background:
All crimes in the region were previously tried under the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), equivalent to the Indian Penal Code, before the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories in 2019.
This conviction sheds light on a 12-year legal battle, underscoring the pursuit of justice in cases of heinous crimes.
