Court Rejects Bail Plea of Two Accused in Mirwaiz Farooq Assassination Case

Rapid summary:

• Two accused in the assassination of Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, Javid Bhat and Zahoor Bhat, had their bail applications dismissed by the designated TADA Court in Jammu on September 16, 2025.
• The bail was sought on medical grounds but denied.
• Both individuals were arrested in 2023, after evading authorities for over three decades following the incident that occurred in 1990.
• Mr. Farooq, a prominent Kashmiri religious and political leader and father of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was assassinated at his residence.
• The CBI had identified hizbul Mujahideen commanders Abdullah Bangroo and Rehman Shigan as conspirators behind the attack. Both commanders were later killed by security forces.
• Another accused in the case, Ayub Dar, is serving life imprisonment.
• During Mr. Farooq’s funeral procession in Srinagar’s Hawal area, security forces opened fire on mourners, killing at least 35 people.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The rejection of bail for Javid Bhat and Zahoor Bhat highlights India’s continued efforts to pursue justice even decades after major criminal acts tied to terrorism occur. This case reflects a complex interplay of legal persistence amid challenges posed by prolonged evasion from authorities-the duo reportedly returned quietly to Kashmir years ago while successfully avoiding detection for a long time.

The assassination of a respected figure like Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq disrupted both Kashmir’s political landscape and its cultural fabric during one of its more turbulent periods. Additionally, the tragic loss of lives during his funeral procession remains etched into local memory as an example of mismanagement or excessive force.

From an institutional perspective within India’s judicial framework under laws such as TADA (many provisions later replaced), this case emphasizes adherence to due process without prejudgments regarding sensitive issues linked with conflict zones like Jammu & Kashmir.

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