Shopian, Nov 18: The NIA/UAPA Court for Kulgam and Shopian has convicted Towseef Ahmed Thokar, son of Mohammad Yousaf Thokar and a resident of Khawajapora Reban, Zainapora, in the 2021 Imam Sahab encounter case registered under FIR No. 25/2021 at Police Station Imam Sahab.
Thokar was found guilty under Sections 16, 18, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Section 307 of the IPC, and Section 7/27 of the Arms Act. The court had listed the matter for sentencing on November 17, 2025, and subsequently awarded him six years of imprisonment.
The case relates to an encounter that took place on May 5, 2021, at Imam Sahab in Shopian, during which three militants — Danish Ahmed Mir, Zahid Bashir, and Umar Hassan Bhat — were killed. Thokar was apprehended alive at the encounter site along with arms and ammunition.
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The investigation was led by Mohd Ashraf Lissery (JKPS), who was then serving as DySP Operations Imam Sahab and is currently posted as SDPO Magam. The court praised both the Investigating Officer and the prosecution team for conducting a thorough and professional investigation.
In his detailed judgment, Special Judge Parvaiz Iqbal stressed the need for a stringent judicial approach in cases involving terrorism, noting that such acts pose a grave threat to national security and public order. He also emphasized that while courts must remain firm against terrorism, they must equally ensure that constitutional safeguards and the right to a fair trial are upheld.
“The investigation has been carried out in a professional manner, and the prosecution has systematically presented evidence that led the court to believe in the truthfulness of the prosecution case,” the judgment states.
The court concluded that the prosecution had successfully proved all charges beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and subsequent sentencing of the accused.
