Hawal Acid Case; Court Convicts Man, Arguments On Quantum of Punishment on Wednesday, Acquits Another Of Main Charges
Mudasir Yaqoob
Srinagar, March 4: Srinagar Court on Monday convicted a man in acid attack case on the 24-year old girl at Hawal Srinagar in 2022. The Co-accused in the case was acquitted of main charges but found guilty of selling acid in violation of norms.
After hearing prosecution and defence counsel, the Court of Principal District Sessions Court, Srinagar, presided over by Jawad Ahmad said that prosecution has proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.
The Court said that Sajid Altaf Rather S/o Mohd Altaf Rather R/o Buchwara Dalgate is guilty of throwing acid on the victim while another accused Muhammad Saleem is acquitted of charges under section 326A IPC and 34 IPC. “But is guilty of being negligent for selling the acid against norms,” Court said.
Court listed the case for quantum of punishment on Tuesday.
Amicus Curie Advocate Mir Naveed Gul who represented the victim in case expressed satisfaction over the pronouncement. “We all have a complete faith over the judicial system. The conviction verdict by temple of justice is a reiteration of fact that crime never pays,” advocate Gul told ANN News.
He added that prosecution will make strong arguments in light of law to seek maximum punishment for the convicts.
On 2 February 2022, Police had arrested three persons, including the main accused, for throwing acid on a girl in the city last evening.
Police Station Nowhatta registered the case vide FIR number 8/22 after a 24 year old girl in Hawal area was attacked with acid.
As the case was of heinous nature, SSP Srinagar immediately formed a Special investigation team with the then SP North Raja Zuhaib as Chairman and SDPO Khanyar, SHO Nowhatta, SHO Safakadal and SHO Women PS as members.
Police arrested Sajid Altaf Rather S/o Mohd Altaf Rather R/o Buchwara Dalgate.
As per prosecution, the initial investigation revealed that Rather was having interest in the girl and since she had rejected his engagement proposal, he had been stalking her. He committed offence along with co-accused Momin Nazir sheikh S/o Nazir Ahmad Sheikh R/o Mehjoornagar.
Mohd Saleem S/o Abdul Ganie R/o Padshaibagh, a motor Mechanic who works near Durganath near Dalgate area.
