Why NIA court rejected bail plea of J&K man accused of backing Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists

An alleged terror associate accused of providing support to Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists in J&K's Kishtwar district has had his bail plea rejected by an NIA court. Tanvir Ahmed Malik, from Doda district's Tanta area, was arrested on March 1, 2021, on charges of offering food, shelter, and logistical assistance to Haroon Abbas Wani and Tahir Ahmed Bhat, who were both involved in a weapons snatching incident in 2019.

The court's Special Judge, Prem Sagar, argued that the delay in trial should not be used as a reason to grant bail in such cases. He noted that a trial has already been underway since March 3, 2022, with 30 out of 101 prosecution witnesses already examined. Malik's alleged connection to the accused emerged during the NIA's investigation into the 2019 weapon-snatching incident.

Probes revealed that Rustam Qazi, an active member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, frequently visited Malik's house and was close to Malik's father, who was also a member of the same group.

The judge pointed out that witnesses are being examined according to the scheduled date, and the evidence against Malik is still being corroborated from other witnesses. The court emphasized that granting bail in this case would likely enable Malik to influence key witnesses, potentially undermining the pursuit of justice. Ultimately, the court rejected Malik's bail application, considering the nature and gravity of the alleged offenses and the need to protect the larger interest of the state and union territory.