New Delhi, In a significant judicial reversal, the Supreme Court of India has ordered a retrial for six Kashmiri men previously acquitted by the High Court of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This decision underscores ongoing tensions and legal controversies surrounding the prosecution of alleged unlawful activities in the region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the individuals, identified as Amin, Umar Shafi, Aqib Shafi Shah, Wasim Ahmed Dar, Hilal Ahmad Mantoo, and Shahid Ahmad Wani, were initially accused of involvement in a failed suicide car bomb attack targeting a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Banihal in March 2019. They were exonerated in April 2021 by the IIOJK High Court due to procedural lapses in their prosecution.

Justices MM Sundresh and SVN Bhatti of the Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s judgment, citing the procedural error as rectifiable and allowing for the renewal of charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This decision effectively reinstates the case, directing that the proper legal protocols be followed for their prosecution.