Court awards double life term to man for killing three family members in Gool

22/10/2026

JAMMU, Oct 21: A court in Ramban has sentenced Mohd Sharief to two life terms for his involvement in the killing of three members of a family, including a six-month-old infant, during a militant attack in Gool area in July 2005.
Principal Sessions Judge Ramban Ajay Kumar Gupta also imposed fines totalling Rs. 2 lakh on the convict, who was found guilty of murder, attempt to murder and other offences in connection with the attack that took place more than 21 years ago.
The court awarded life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 50,000 under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) and another life sentence with a fine of Rs. 50,000 under Section 121-A RPC. It also awarded 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each under Section 307 RPC and Sections 7/27 of the Indian Arms Act, with a fine of Rs. 50,000 under each provision.
All sentences will run concurrently, and the period already spent in custody will be set off in accordance with law.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on July 27, 2005, when two armed militants, identified as Shabir Ahmed and Mohd Sharief, entered the house of Abdul Rashid Bohra at Sokhar in Gool and questioned the family about the alleged association of Rashid's son, Tanveer Ahmed, with the Army.
The assailants allegedly opened indiscriminate fire with AK-47 rifles, killing Taja Begum, her daughter Shaheena Bano and six-month-old Muntazar Ahmed. Abdul Rashid and his daughter-in-law Mashooma Begum sustained serious bullet injuries.
Following the incident, Police Station Gool registered an FIR under Sections 302, 307 and 121-A RPC and Sections 7/27 of the Arms Act.
During the investigation, police recovered 17 empty cartridges from the scene and collected medical evidence and witness statements. The accused initially remained untraced, prompting proceedings under Section 512 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Sharief was arrested on February 6, 2019, after which the trial proceeded.
Proceedings against co-accused Shabir Ahmed were abated in February 2022 after a death certificate established that he had died on July 21, 2006.
During the trial, Public Prosecutor Wajid Ahmed, appearing for the State, relied on the testimony of injured eyewitnesses Abdul Rashid and Mashooma Begum, medical evidence and other prosecution witnesses to establish the accused's involvement.
Defence counsel Imtiyaz Mir challenged the prosecution case, citing delays in recording witness statements, contradictions in depositions, alleged shortcomings in the investigation and the initial description of the attackers as unidentified militants.
However, after examining the evidence, the court found the testimony of the two injured eyewitnesses reliable and corroborated by medical and other evidence. It observed that their relationship with the deceased was not, by itself, a ground to discard their testimony, particularly when their presence at the scene was supported by medical evidence.
The court further held that deficiencies in the investigation or delays in recording statements could not automatically lead to acquittal when the evidence otherwise established guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
During arguments on sentencing, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment permissible under law, highlighting the killing of three family members, including an infant. The defence sought leniency, referring to the passage of time, the convict's family responsibilities, lack of previous convictions, conduct during incarceration and prospects of rehabilitation.
After considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the court held that the case did not meet the threshold for the death penalty under the rarest-of-rare principle.
The court directed that the fine, if realised, be paid to the injured victims and recommended that the J&K State Legal Services Authority provide statutory compensation to the legal heirs of the deceased and the surviving victims.
It also directed that the case record be forwarded to the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh for confirmation of the sentences, as specified in the order, and informed the convict of his right to appeal within 14 days.
Sharief is currently lodged in District Jail Pulwama.

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