On Thursday, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Kashmir filed a supplementary chargesheet against Mian Abdul Qayoom, a senior lawyer and former president of the High Court Bar Association Kashmir, in connection with the murder case of Babar Qadri.
Babar Qadri was allegedly killed by terrorists at his home in the Hawal area of Srinagar in September 2020.
According to a statement from the SIA, a case was registered under FIR No.62/2020 for various offenses, including murder and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The investigation was initially conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by SP Hazratbal.
The SIT filed a chargesheet against six accused individuals on May 6, 2021, in the Special NIA Court in Srinagar. Later, further investigation was taken over by SDPO Zadibal, and then on July 20, 2023, the Police Headquarters J&K transferred the case to the SIA. A new SIT was formed to uncover the larger conspiracy behind the killing.
The SIT gathered enough evidence and arrested Mian Qayoom on June 25, 2024, as the main conspirator in Babar Qadri’s murder.
The investigation revealed that Mian Qayoom had a hostile relationship with Babar Qadri and conspired with terrorists from TRF and their handlers in Pakistan to have him killed.
Babar Qadri was active on social media and often criticized Mian Qayoom. On the day he was killed, he went live on Facebook, expressing fear of being targeted by Mian Qayoom and his associates. Tragically, he was murdered at his home just hours later.
The SIA has now presented a 340-page supplementary chargesheet against Mian Qayoom for several offenses, including murder and conspiracy under the UAPA. Further investigation will continue.
Initially, the chargesheet was filed in the Special NIA Court in Srinagar, but in December 2023, the High Court moved the trial to Jammu due to concerns about interference in the judicial process and threats to Babar Qadri’s family. Mian Qayoom is currently held in District Jail Amphalla, Jammu.
