SRINAGAR: A local court has sentenced a man to life imprisonment after convicting him in the 2020 murder of a Budgam resident inside a mosque in Srinagar, officials said on Friday.
The court convicted Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Dar, son of Abdul Gani Dar and a resident of Bichwara, Dalgate, in connection with the murder of Abdul Gani Dar, son of Mohammad Abdullah, a resident of Rassu in Budgam. The case was registered as FIR No. 03/2020 at Police Station Maisuma under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.
After hearing arguments on sentencing, the court observed that although the offence was grave and heinous, it did not fall within the category of the “rarest of rare” cases warranting the death penalty. It sentenced the convict to rigorous imprisonment for life and imposed a fine of ₹50,000.
The court directed that the fine amount, if recovered, be paid to the legal heirs of the deceased as compensation. It also granted the convict the benefit of set-off for the period already spent in judicial custody, in accordance with the law.
While pronouncing the sentence, the court took serious note of the fact that the murder took place inside the premises of a mosque, observing that violence in a place of worship undermines public peace, communal harmony and the sanctity of religious institutions.
Considering the financial hardship faced by the victim’s family, particularly the dependence of his children, the court also directed the release of ₹7 lakh as victim compensation under the Jammu and Kashmir Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019. The amount will be disbursed through the Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority within the stipulated time.
In a statement, Srinagar Police said the conviction was secured following a thorough investigation and effective prosecution of the case. The police said the verdict reflects its commitment to ensuring justice through professional investigation, scientific evidence and diligent prosecution.
Police reiterated that it remains committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that offenders are brought to justice.
