After 22 years, Bandipora court clears three in police attack case; two accused died during trial

June 23, 2025 by News Desk

After more than two decades of legal proceedings, a Bandipora court on Saturday acquitted three individuals accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a police party in 2002, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Principal Sessions Judge Bandipora, Khalil Ahmad Choudhary, announced the acquittal of Ayaz Ahmad Pir alias Mitha, Shawkat Pir—both sons of Ab Ahad Pir—and Mymoona, wife of Ab Ahad Pir, all residents of Garoora Bandipora.

The court observed that the prosecution evidence fell short of meeting the legal standard required for conviction.

According to the case details, on November 20, 2002, a group allegedly comprising Showkat Ahmad Peer, Ayaz Ahmad Peer, and others reportedly opened fire on a police party with illegally acquired weapons.

The firing resulted in the on-spot death of a civilian, Ghulam Nabi Ganaie, and serious injuries to ASI Ghulam Rasool, Constable Manzoor Ahmad, and two other civilians, Javid Ahmad Lone and Zaffar Mehraj Lone. ASI Rasool later succumbed to his injuries in hospital.

An FIR was registered at Police Station Bandipora under sections 302, 307, and 34 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) along with the Arms Act.

A charge sheet was submitted in February 2003 and the case was committed to the Principal Sessions Judge Baramulla. Charges were formally framed on July 16, 2003.

Following the creation of Bandipora district in 2008, the case was transferred to the newly constituted Sessions Court there. Despite the prosecution completing its evidence in 2013, the case lingered for years at the stage of final arguments, reportedly due to procedural delays and the complex nature of evidence.

Emphasizing the long pendency and public sensitivity of the matter, the Bandipora Sessions Court recently expedited the proceedings, leading to the final judgment.

In his verdict, Judge Choudhary noted: “The testimonies of the witnesses, even if taken at face value, do not fulfill the threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The circumstances relied upon by the prosecution do not unerringly point to the guilt of the accused. It would be unsafe to sustain a conviction based on such evidence.”

The judgment also mentioned that two of the accused had died during the course of the proceedings, and hence the charges against them stood abated.