Srinagar, Aug 13 (NVI): The Government Railway Police (GRP) Jammu has arrested a man who had been absconding for 35 years in connection with a 1991 bomb blast at Jammu Railway Station, officials said on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Altaf Hussain Sheikh, son of Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, a resident of Marhama-Bijbehara in Anantnag district, was arrested after a sustained investigation and efforts to trace absconders in militancy-related cases, they said.
According to officials, Sheikh was allegedly involved in the blast that occurred on April 2, 1991, at Platform No. 1 of Jammu Railway Station. The explosion had left three people dead, including two paramilitary personnel, and injured 18 civilians.
An FIR was registered at GRP Jammu under sections 307, 302 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code, besides provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act.
During the investigation, one accused, Aman Ullah Khan, was arrested, while three others managed to evade arrest and were subsequently declared absconders by the court, officials said.
GRP Jammu intensified efforts to trace the absconders over the past two years. During the investigation, Sheikh’s identity and whereabouts were verified, and it was found that he had allegedly been living under a concealed identity for several decades and had established himself as a businessman in the Bijbehara area.
Sheikh was arrested and produced before the TADA Court on Thursday for further legal proceedings, officials said.
The arrest, they said, was the result of sustained efforts by GRP Jammu to trace and bring to justice absconders wanted in long-pending militancy-related cases.(NVI)
