Northlines Correspondent
Jammu Tawi, October 05: In a significant achievement reflecting sustained legal diligence, the Prosecution Department of Jammu and Kashmir has secured three major convictions within a span of 48 hours, with verdicts delivered on September 29 and 30, 2026, by Sessions Courts in Udhampur, Ganderbal and Jammu districts.
The convictions relate to two murder cases and a major narcotics trafficking case, underscoring the Department’s continued efforts to ensure effective prosecution of serious criminal offences.
The Special Court under the NDPS Act convicted Sajjad Ahmed Bhat for illegal possession of 1.500 kg of charas. He was sentenced under Section 20 of the NDPS Act to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh. Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Kumar successfully conducted the prosecution.
In another case, the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Udhampur, convicted Arwant Singh for the murder of a 70-year-old man in village Sarmali, Majalta. The court awarded him life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000. Additional Public Prosecutor Jaswant Raj and Assistant Public Prosecutor Ritu effectively led the prosecution, following a smooth transition in the conduct of the case.
Meanwhile, the Court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Ganderbal, convicted Mohd Shafi Magrey under Sections 302 (murder), 379 (theft) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Additional Public Prosecutor Shafaq Murtaza presented the prosecution case during the prolonged trial, relying on meticulously presented circumstantial evidence. The hearing on the quantum of sentence is scheduled for October 15, 2026.
The successful outcomes reflect sustained prosecutorial efforts, effective courtroom strategy and close coordination with investigating agencies. The designated Prosecutors addressed procedural and technical challenges while ensuring that the evidence remained central to the proceedings.
The Prosecution Department reiterated its commitment to further strengthening its capabilities through capacity building, monitoring of trials involving heinous offences and closer coordination with police and forensic agencies to ensure effective delivery of justice and strengthen the rule of law across the Union Territory.