The Supreme Court has authorized the prosecution of six Hizbul Mujahideen members accused of a failed car suicide bombing aimed at a Central Reserve Police Force convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in March 2019.
This decision overturns the Jammu Kashmir High Court’s ruling, which had upheld a trial court’s acquittal due to a procedural error.
Citing similarities to the deadly Pulwama attack in February 2019, the Supreme Court determined that the procedural error could be corrected, thus allowing prosecution under the UAPA by following the proper procedures.
A suspect, identified as Amin from South Kashmir, allegedly attempted this attack, mirroring the Pulwama incident. After the Pulwama attack, the Union Home Ministry handed the investigation to the NIA. In September 2019, the NIA filed a charge sheet accusing Amin and five others of plotting to kill security personnel.
However, in March 2020, a special court discharged Amin due to the District Magistrate’s lack of authorization to file a complaint.
The J&K High Court upheld Amin’s exoneration in April 2021. Subsequently, in February 2021, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet against Naveed Mushtaq Shah, a former J&K Police constable who joined Hizbul Mujahideen.
The NIA stated that Shah played a significant role in planning and executing the attack on the CRPF convoy, along with other terrorists who were later killed in encounters with security forces.