Special NIA court rejects bail plea of Kishtwar terror associate

The Special NIA Court Jammu has rejected the bail application of alleged terror associate Tanvir Ahmed Malik in the 2019 Kishtwar weapon-snatching case, observing that the gravity of the terror-related charges and the possibility of witness tampering weighed against his release.

The case (RC No. 08/2019/NIA/JMU) is from the March 2019 incident where armed Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists snatched an AK-47 rifle, three magazines, and 90 live cartridges from the escort In-charge of the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar.

Malik, a resident of Tantna in Doda district, is accused of functioning as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) who provided shelter, food, and logistics to HM terrorists-including Haroon Abbas Wani and Tahir Ahmed Bhat-between June 2019 and January 2020.

Observing that 30 out of 101 prosecution witnesses have already been examined, the court ruled that mere delay in trial is not sufficient ground for bail in grave terror cases and noted a strong likelihood that releasing the accused could lead to witness tampering.