Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 12: The Fast Track Court, Jammu has framed charges of kidnapping, wrongful confinement and rape against accused Abdul Hameed in the nearly three-decade-old Jhajjar Kotli rape case, while coming down heavily on the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Jhajjar Kotli for filing a “preposterous” and “misleading” status report on the execution of general warrants of arrest issued against other accused in the case.
The case, arising out of FIR No. 34/1996 of Police Station Jhajjar Kotli, relates to offences under Sections 343, 366 and 376 RPC. The order passed by Presiding Officer Amarjeet Singh Langeh notes that the matter has a “chequered history,” with all accused initially absconding and general warrants of arrest under Section 512 CrPC having been issued against them on 21.08.1997. Subsequently, three accused – Abdul Rehman Lone, Mohd Amin Sheikh and Ali Mohd – appeared before the court and were charge-sheeted on 11.09.1998, whereafter the prosecution was directed to lead evidence.
Present accused Abdul Hameed was recently arrested in execution of the general warrant of arrest. The file, after moving through different courts, was finally received by the Fast Track Court on 30.10.2025 and the matter was posted for arguments on charge.
As per the prosecution case, on 02.06.1996, Abdul Hameed along with co-accused allegedly forced three women into truck No. JK01A-3035, took them to an unknown place where they were subjected to rape during the night, and later transported them to Delhi where the sexual assault was repeated in a hotel.
On 08.06.1996, while returning to J&K, the vehicle was checked at Manwal naka, where one of the victims narrated the incident to police, leading to registration of the present FIR and investigation.
On perusal of the material, including statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC, the court held that there is a prima facie case that Abdul Hameed was one of the co-accused who took the victims to Delhi, kept them in wrongful confinement for more than three days and committed rape. He has been charge-sheeted for offences under Sections 366, 376 and 343 RPC; the charge was read over and explained to him virtually, and he pleaded not guilty, seeking trial.
During the hearing, the Additional Public Prosecutor produced a status report submitted by SHO Jhajjar Kotli regarding the general warrants against three co-accused. The court reproduced the “astonishing” portion wherein the SHO stated he had sought the “status of arrest warrant” from the warrant-issuing court. Terming this stand “preposterous to say the least” and noting that the report did not even suggest that the general warrant had not been received, the Presiding Officer observed that the status report “ex facie seems to be misleading” and directed the SHO to remain present in person on the next date of hearing to explain.
The case has now been listed for prosecution evidence on November 17, 2025.
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