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Murder case of retired Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, who fell prey to Islamic jihad in Jammu and Kashmir over 3 decades ago, to be reopened by SIA

In 1989, JKLF terrorists assassinated Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo to avenge the death sentence to Maqbool Bhat.

On Monday, August 7, the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) reopened the murder case of retired Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo, almost 34 years after the Kashmiri Pandit fell prey to the rising Islamic Jihad due to which a huge conflict erupted in Kashmir, forcing the great majority of Hindus to flee the valley.

According to reports, the SIA has sought information from the general public to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the killing of the retired Judge.

“In order to unearth the larger criminal conspiracy behind the murder of Retired Judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo three decades ago, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of this murder case to come forward and share any account of events which has a direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case,” ANI quoted SIA as stating.

The agency has released email IDs with numbers to share information. It has assured that the identity of those who come up with any sort of information would be kept secret. Also, those giving relevant information will be suitably rewarded. The public has been asked to contact 8899004976 or email [email protected] for any information related to this murder case.

The murder of Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo

Between 1966 to 1968, Judge Ganjoo presided over the trial of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) co-founder Maqbool Bhat as a sessions court judge.

In August 1968, he sentenced Maqbool Bhat to death for the murder of police constable Amar Chand in 1966. 

The Supreme Court upheld the verdict in 1982. Two years later, after JKLF terrorists in Britain murdered diplomat Ravindra Mhatre, the death sentence against Maqbool Bhat was carried out at Tihar Jail.

Five years later, on November 4, 1989, three Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) terrorists shot High Court Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo in broad daylight when he was in Hari Singh Street market near the high court in Srinagar. Judge Ganjoo was brutally murdered for his involvement in the Amar Chand murder trial. As a sessions court judge, he had given the death sentence to the terrorist Maqbool Bhat in August 1968.

On the fateful day, the retired judge had gone to Jammu & Kashmir Bank’s branch located on Hari Singh Street Market in Srinagar. The terrorists fired several shots from close range, and he died on the spot. After his murder, an announcement was made on Radio Kashmir, “Unknown assailants gunned down a former Sessions Judge in Maharaj Bazaar, Srinagar.”

The death of Judge Ganjoo was the second murder of a prominent Kashmiri Pandit within a few weeks. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tika Lal Taploo was murdered in September. Tika Lal Taploo was the first causality of the so-called ‘Azad Kashmir’ movement that finally led to the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits from the valley.

Who was Maqbool Bhat?

Maqbool Bhat was a Kashmiri terrorist who co-founded National Liberation Front (NFL). It was a military wing linked to ‘Azad Kashmir Plebiscite Front’. NFL was a precursor to the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, a banned terrorist organization Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Bhat carried out terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir. He was tried and convicted for the death of two officials. Bhat was hanged to death on February 11, 1984, in Tihar Jail, Delhi.

Bhat was born on February 18, 1938, in the present-day Kupwara district. During his college days, he was associated with Mirza Afzal Beg’s Plebiscite Front. In August 1958, following the arrest of Shiekh Abdullah (father of Farooq Abdullah), Bhat left for Pakistan, where he joined Peshawar University and did MA in Urdu Literature. In 1965 he joined Azad Kashmir Plebiscite Front as publicity secretary.

With an oath to ‘liberate’ Kashmir, he, along with Amanullah Khan, established an underground armed wing of AKPF and called it National Liberation Front (NFL). He was responsible for the overall coordination of the group.

Bhat’s terror outfit was accused of kidnapping and killing CID officer Amar Chand in the valley and Indian diplomat Ravindra Mahatre in the United Kingdom. He was also accused of being involved in the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane named Ganga. The hijackers had demanded the release of 36 NFL terrorists and took the plane to Lahore. However, the passengers were released, and no demands were fulfilled.

Bhat was tried for sabotage and murder. He was convicted and awarded death sentence in September 1968 by then-Session Court Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo. After his multiple petitions were rejected, Bhat was hanged to death on February 11, 1984.

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