"Even Ajmal Kasab Got a Fair Trial": Supreme Court on Yasin Malik Case
The CBI's appeal against the personal appearance of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in the court was heard on Thursday. During the hearing, the Supreme Court mentioned terrorist Ajmal Kasab. The Supreme Court said that Ajmal Kasab got a fair trial in this country. Because of this, we should also give him a fair opportunity. Also, the investigating agency, CBI was asked to file a revised petition within a week and allowed all the accused related to the case to be made parties. The next hearing of the case will be on November 28.
During the hearing of the case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the CBI, said that the Jammu Special Court says that it is not favorable and he should be presented personally. We do not want to take Yasin Malik to Jammu and Kashmir. On this, Justice Abhay S Oka said that but how can cross-examination take place in video conferencing?
The SG said that if he is adamant about appearing personally, then the case should be transferred to Delhi. The SG said that Yasin Malik is not an ordinary terrorist. Justice Oka said that take instructions on how many witnesses are there in the case.
The apex court said that in our country even Ajmal Kasab was given a fair hearing. The SG said that the government cannot go by the books in such cases. Yasin has frequently travelled to Pakistan and has shared the stage with Hafiz Saeed. The Supreme Court said that yes, a courtroom can be made in the jail and this can be done there. The Supreme Court allowed the CBI to file a revised petition. It also asked to make all the accused related to this case a party within a week.
This whole case is related to the murder of four Air Force personnel in 1990. A group of terrorists led by Yasin Malik opened fire on Indian Air Force personnel in Srinagar on 25 January 1990. Four soldiers were killed and 40 others were injured in this attack. Malik was the leader of the terrorist group JKLF at that time. Malik was arrested in 1990. He was later released. His trial was stayed. However, Yasin has been in jail for the last 5 years. Yasin has been convicted only in the terror funding case.
