Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Srinagar Police has secured the conviction of the accused in a 2020 murder case registered as FIR No. 03/2020 at Police Station Maisuma, with the court sentencing the convict to rigorous imprisonment for life in a case that involved a killing inside the premises of a mosque.
The court convicted Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, son of Abdul Gani Dar and a resident of Bichwara, Dalgate, Srinagar, for the murder of Abdul Gani Dar, son of Mohd Abdullah and a resident of Rassu, Budgam, under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. After hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence, the court observed that although the offence was grave and heinous, it did not fall within the category of the rarest of rare cases warranting the death penalty.
Accordingly, the court sentenced the convict to rigorous imprisonment for life along with a fine of ₹50,000, to be paid to the legal heirs of the deceased as compensation if realised. The convict has also been granted the benefit of set-off for the period already spent in judicial custody, in accordance with law.
While passing the sentence, the court took serious note of the fact that the brutal assault occurred inside the premises of a mosque, observing that violence in a place of worship undermines public peace, communal harmony and the sanctity of sacred institutions. Considering the hardship faced by the victim’s family, particularly the dependence of his children, the court also directed the payment of ₹7 lakh as victim compensation under the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019, to be released through the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority within the stipulated period.
The conviction is the result of a meticulous investigation conducted by Srinagar Police and effective prosecution before the court, reflecting the department’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims through professional investigation, scientific evidence and diligent prosecution. Police said they remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and ensuring that every offender is brought to justice in accordance with the law.
