In a major breakthrough demonstrating unwavering legal diligence, the Prosecution Department of Jammu and Kashmir has secured three significant convictions within a 48-hour span (September 29-30, 2026). The verdicts, delivered by Sessions Courts across Udhampur, Ganderbal and Jammu districts, cover two high-profile murder trials and a major narcotics trafficking case.
The Special Court under the NDPS Act convicted Sajjad Ahmed Bhat for illegal possession of 1.500 kg of charas. Sentenced under Section 20 of the NDPS Act, the convict was sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.1,00,000. The Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Kumar successfully conducted the prosecution.
The Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Udhampur, found Arwant Singh guilty of murdering a 70-year-old man in village Sarmali, Majalta. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs. 20,000. The Addl. Public Prosecutor Jaswant Raj and Asst. Public Prosecutor Ritu effectively led the case to its final outcome following a smooth prosecutorial transition.
The Court of Additional Sessions Judge, Ganderbal, convicted Mohd Shafi Magrey under Sections 302 (murder), 379 (theft) and 201 (disappearance of evidence) of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC). Addl. Public Prosecutor Shafaq Murtaza anchored the State's case through a long trial, relying on meticulously presented circumstantial evidence. The hearing on quantum of sentence is scheduled for October 15, 2026.
These successful outcomes reflect years of sustained diligence, effective court navigation and close coordination with investigative agencies. By addressing procedural defenses and technical gaps, the designated Prosecutors ensured that the evidence remained central to each verdict.
To build on these successes, the Department remains dedicated to capacity building, trial monitoring in heinous offenses and tight coordination with police and forensic teams to maintain law and order across the Union Territory.