Murder of Kulgam civilian’s in 2002: HC dismisses Hizb militant’s plea against life sentence

Srinagar, Sep 13: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh on Wednesday dismissed an appeal by a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant against life sentence awarded to him by the trial court regarding the murder of a civilian in Kulgam district of south Kashmir more than two decades ago.
Abdul Hameed Teeli, the Hizb militant, son of Mohammad Ramzan Teeli of Kokerhama Kulgam, had filed an appeal against the conviction and life sentence awarded to him by Principal Sessions Judge Kulgam in 2016 for murder of one Nazir Ahmed Wagay (25) of Raghal D.H. Pora area of the district.

As per the prosecution, Wagay was killed inside his home on 22 February 2002.
Dismissing Teeli’s plea against the conviction and sentence order, a division bench of Justices Vinod Chatterji Koul and Mohan Lal observed that once the genesis of the occurrence has been proved by the prosecution evidence in the case, the defence evidence “which does not dispute the occurrence”, would not be sufficient to dispel the entire prosecution case.
“After churning the entire prosecution evidence once again by us being the First Court of Appeal, we are of the considered view, that the prosecution has been able to prove the charges punishable u/s 302/452/34 RPC r/w 7/25 of Arms Act against appellant (Teeli) beyond any reasonable doubt, and therefore, his conviction for the charges deserves to be upheld,” the court said, adding, “The net result now surfaces is, that instant appeal stands dismissed, while the conviction and sentence rendered by the trial court for commission of offence u/s 302/452/34 RPC r/w 7/25 of Arms act against appellant/convict stands upheld and confirmed.”