Involved in killings of seven persons, man arrested after 23 years in Kashmir

SRINAGAR — A government gunman, who was “evading” arrest from last 23 years in connection with the killing of seven members of a family, was on Tuesday arrested by police.

“A police party of police station Sumbal led by SHO under the supervision of SDPO Sumbal arrested the person namely Wali Mohammad Mir son of Mohammad Maqsood Mir of Saderkoot Bala Bandipora,” a police official said in a statement.

“He was involved in a case FIR No. 125/1996 u/s 302, 307, 325, 341 RPC 7/27 Arms Act of P/S Sumbal,” the official said.

The statement said, “The accused Wali Mohammad Mir was evading his arrest from last 23 years and accused was arrested from village Barwala Kangan.”

The accused is involved in the brutal murder of seven persons — five men and two women and injuring to other five persons of village Saderkoot Bala.

“Several warrants were issued by the District Court and Sessions Judge Bandipora but the accused hid himself at some unknown location till now,” the statement added.

On October 05, 1996, seven members of three families in Sadderkote-Bala, Bandipora were killed by government gunmen known locally as Ikhwanis.