‘No involvement, got to know of Sarla Bhat killing months later’: Yasin Malik

'No involvement, obtained to know of Sarla Bhat killing months afterwards': Yasin Malik On SIA chargesheet that the Kashmiri Pandit nurse was killed on the JKLF's assumption that she was passing along information to security forces, Malik noted, The very framing of.

Key points

• Despite the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits that commenced on 19 January 1990, Ms.
• Sarla Bhat was a 27-year-old nurse from Qazibagh neighbourhood of south Kashmir's Anantnag.
• Historical record demonstrates that I had sustained life-threatening injuries on 8 April 1990, remained in a coma, and was widely documented to have died.
• Malik additionally wrote that he first came to know of Bhat's murder in February 1991.
• "Within approximately 20 minutes, the premises were raided by the Border Security Force (BSF)."

Sarla Bhat was a 27-year-old nurse from Qazibagh neighbourhood of south Kashmir's Anantnag. (File photo).

JKLF chief Yasin Malik has denied involvement in the killing of Sarla Bhat, claiming that he obtained to know of the murder of the Kashmiri Pandit nurse only in February 1991 – months after her death in April 1990.

This comes over two months after the State Investigation Agency (SIA) filed a 737-page chargesheet in a special NIA court in Srinagar in June, naming Malik as a key accused in Bhat's abduction and killing.

With regard to the SIA stating in its chargesheet that Bhat was killed on the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front's (JKLF) assumption that she was passing along information to the security forces, Malik, in an affidavit lately filed before the Further Sessions Judge (TADA/POTA) Court in Srinagar, noted, "The very framing of this question is deeply offensive to the memory of the deceased."

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"Despite the mass migration of Kashmiri Pandits that commenced on 19 January 1990, Ms. Sarla Bhat and her family chose to remain in the Valley alongside their Kashmiri Muslim neighbours despite the prevailing uncertainty and danger, " he remarked in the affidavit. It is, therefore, he remarked, "both unjust and insensitive to attribute such a baseless motive without any credible evidence whatsoever."

He remarked that in June, officers of the SIA visited him in Tihar jail, where he remains lodged since 2019, and questioned him on his alleged involvement in Bhat's murder.

In the 25-page affidavit, Malik stated that on that day in April, 1990, he along with Showkat Bakshi, Javed Zargar, and Iqbal Gandroo, reached a house at Hafiz Bazaz. "Within approximately 20 minutes, the premises were raided by the Border Security Force (BSF)."

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In an attempt to escape, he jumped from the fifth floor of the building, sustaining grievous injuries, he remarked. "I began bleeding profusely and shortly lost consciousness. My associates were apprehended during the raid, " he continued. 'Was declared dead on two occasions.'

After this, Malik remarked he was in a coma for numerous days and his whereabouts were not known to his organisation. He remarked that in subsequent years, the administration of India initiated a dialogue process with him. He remarked Special Director, Intelligence Bureau (IB), Ajit Kumar Doval met him and arranged for him to meet then National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra.

"Historical record demonstrates that I had sustained life-threatening injuries on 8 April 1990, remained in a coma, and was widely documented to have died. As reports indicate circulated at the time, indeed, I was declared dead on two occasions – first on 8th April 1990 and again on 27 April 1990, the day of Eid. It is therefore incomprehensible how a person who was unconscious, fighting for his own survival. Could have participated in, directed or orchestrated the commission of the offence alleged by the prosecution, " he remarked in the affidavit.

Towards the end of his affidavit, Malik stated: "I wish to clarify that I have no complaint against this Hon'ble court or the prosecuting agencies. I respectfully state that, in my understanding, the present proceedings have arisen out of political circumstances and decisions and, I believe, I have been falsely implicated in the present case."

He additionally addressed his wife and daughter. This person live in Pakistan. To his wife Mashal, he remarked, "I do not want you to spend the rest of your life carrying the burden of my circumstances or living as a widow. I, therefore, request you to find the courage to commence a new chapter of your life with dignity and hope."

In June this year, authorities had called the filing of chargesheet against Malik a "historic milestone in the pursuit of justice for victims of terrorism", adding it stood as "one of the most significant breakthroughs in the investigation of legacy terror crimes in Jammu and Kashmir".

In short, 'No involvement, got to know of Sarla Bhat killing months later': Yasin is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.