Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 2: Special Judge NIA Jammu Sandeep Gandotra has acquitted Deputy Superintendent of Jail Feroz Ahmed Lone and others of the charges leveled against them under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The other accused are Sohail Ahmed Bhat, son Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat of Pulwama, Daulat Ali Mughal, son of Syed Rehman Mughal of Kupwara and Mohd Ishaq Palla, son of Ghulam Rasool of Shopian. “The uncorroborated, contradictory & infirm statements made by the witnesses and relied upon by the prosecution have failed to inspire confidence in the mind of this court to convict the accused persons. The prosecution has, therefore, not been able to prove by cogent and reliable evidence the charges which have been made against the accused persons”, the Special Judge said.
“From the statements of prosecution witnesses it is clear that there was no discipline and control over the inmates in Central Jail Srinagar on the date of occurrence— 25.10.2017. It has also come on record in their statements that all the inmates used to meet other inmates and visitors at their own will”, the court observed.
“One of the prosecution witnesses namely Manzoor Ahmed Dar has stated that the inmates used to do whatever they wished and the officers knew these facts but they were helpless and could not do anything. Even the Superintendent of jail has admitted this fact”, the court said, adding “this is a very sad reflection on the working of officers and officials of Central Jail Srinagar for which accountability needs to be fixed and it shall be ensured that such a situation does not arise in future”.
The NIA court also sounded a word of caution for the investigating officers as well and said, “it is expected from the investigating officers to conduct the investigation thoroughly and professionally, more so when the country is facing a hostile neighbor who is hell bent to vitiate the atmosphere by committing barbaric acts of terrorism like the one recently committed at Baisaran Valley Pahalgam”.
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