J-K court acquits 3 men accused of harbouring terrorists who killed BJP leader 5 years ago

SRINAGAR: (Mar 14) A court in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district has acquitted three persons accused of harbouring terrorists who killed a BJP leader and his two family members five years ago.

District and sessions judge Mir Wajah, who is also the special judge designated under the National Investigation Agency (NIA), acquitted the three accused after holding that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

"The accused, Abrar Gulzar Khan, Muneer Ahmad Sheikh and Mohammad Waqar Lone, all from Bandipora, are hereby acquitted of the charge under Section 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by benefit of doubt. They are ordered to be set at liberty forthwith if not required to be detained in connection with any other case, subject to verification by the jail authorities," the judge said in the 89-page order passed on Wednesday.