In a significant development, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has sought public assistance to investigate the murder case of Judge Neelkanth Ganjoo who Ganjoo was assassinated on November 4, 1989, in Srinagar by Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) militants. Ganjoo had sentenced the JKLF pioneer Maqbool Bhat to death in 1968. Bhat’s execution was carried out in 1984.

The SIA in a statement appealed to all persons familiar with facts or circumstances of the Neelkanth Ganjoo murder case to come forward and share any account of events having direct or indirect bearing on the investigation.

The SIA statement reads,?“Identity of all such persons shall be kept completely hidden and protected; all useful and relevant information shall be suitably rewarded”.

The year 1989, which marked the beginning of the insurgency in Kashmir, witnessed a series of political murders including National Conference member Muhammad Yusuf Halwai, retired Justice Neelkanth Ganjoo?and others.

In May this year, Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two accused in the Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq assassination case who was?killed by militants at his Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990.

At a rare press conference,?Special Director General of Police (CID) RR Swain?said that on May 21, 1990, Mirwaiz was killed and the case was registered at the Nageen police station in Srinagar which was later handed over to the CBI. After investigating the case, the CBI filed a chargesheet and one accused Ayub Dar was convicted by the court. The court sentenced him to life.

Swain also added that it came to the fore during the investigation that five persons were involved in the case and the main accused Abdullah Bangroo and Rehman Shigan were killed in an encounter while they were on the run. Two others, Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Bhat, were also on the run and were also arrested.

?“And with it, after 32 years, long arms of the justice have caught them,” he added.