Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorist gets life term in 2002 sarpanch murder case

JAMMU: A sessions court in Bhaderwah on Wednesday awarded life imprisonment to a terrorist involved in the murder of a sarpanch in J&K’s Doda district in July 2002.

The convict, Irfan Ali from Doda’s Kilhotran-Gandoh area, was sentenced under RPC Sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention), and Section 7/27 of Arms Act , police said.

Irfan and his associates — all affiliated with a proscribed outfit — had killed Sher Mohammad , sarpanch of Changa, Gandoh, and fled following the crime, police said.

Gandoh PS registered a case on July 4, 2002. A 17-year-long investigation — led by then-SHO Gandoh — culminated in the filing of a challan before the court of the principal sessions judge, Bhaderwah, on May 28, 2019, following which Irfan was sent to judicial custody, where he since remained.

After a six-year-long trial, the court convicted Irfan and awarded him a life sentence on Wednesday.