On Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Jammu extended the police remand of Mian Abdul Qayoom, the former president of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association, by six days.
Qayoom, a prominent figure in Kashmir associated with the All Party Hurriyat Conference, was arrested on June 25 for his alleged involvement in the murder conspiracy of fellow advocate Babar Qadri in 2020.
The 76-year-old lawyer, taken into custody by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, was implicated in the death of Qadri, a noted human rights expert who was shot at his home in September 2020.
The court, presided over by third additional district and sessions judge (TADA/POTA) Jatinder Singh Jamwal, noted that the investigation is still in its early stages. “Further detention of the accused is imperative to allow the investigation agency to gather all necessary information for the case’s progress,” the judge stated in a two-page order.
Qayoom, with over four decades of legal practice, opposed the remand extension, citing his health issues and need for regular medical care, including insulin doses. Despite his objections, the court granted the extension until July 6, ensuring that adequate medical care would be provided. The prosecution contended that Qayoom was not fully cooperating with the investigation, making his continued detention crucial for obtaining more information.
The case, initially registered in 2020, was moved from Srinagar to Jammu earlier this year to ensure a fair trial. In August 2022, police searches at Qayoom’s residences and those of two other lawyers in Srinagar yielded digital devices, bank statements, and documents. The SIA had offered a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to solving Qadri’s murder.
Police had accused Saqib Manzoor, a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, of being involved in Qadri’s killing; Manzoor was killed in a police encounter in Srinagar in 2022.