The chargesheet concerning the kidnapping and murder of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat has been filed, encapsulating crucial evidence in a comprehensive 737-page document. It was submitted by Jammu and Kashmir’s Special Investigation Agency (SIA) to a special TADA court in Srinagar. The chargesheet identifies five accused individuals, including notable former Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) commander Yasin Malik. Among these accused, three are deceased, one is reportedly evading capture, and Malik is currently serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail related to a separate terror-funding case.

As the investigation has progressed, the SIA managed to reconstruct the case, which dates back over three decades. The agency’s efforts began after the case was reassigned to them in March 2024, utilising a combination of oral, documentary, forensic, medical, ballistic, and electronic evidence to build the prosecution’s case against the accused.

Eyewitness Testimonies and Evidence

A significant component of the prosecution’s argument stems from testimonies provided by protected witnesses. Statements collected under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) allowed these witnesses to identify Sarla Bhat alongside some of the accused shortly before her abduction. They recounted harrowing details of how she was forcibly taken and subsequently murdered by alleged JKLF terrorists.

Additionally, independent eyewitness accounts have corroborated these testimonies, naming participants in the assault as Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo. Their identifications play a critical role in establishing the series of events leading to her death.

Forensic investigations also back up the witness statements. A ballistic examination revealed that the cartridge cases found at the scene were fired from the same 7.62×39 mm firearm, affirming eyewitness accounts of automatic weapon use during the murder. Medical reports indicate numerous gunshot wounds along with signs of severe physical trauma, underlining the violence of the crime.

Documented Evidence Supports Prosecution’s Case

The chargesheet also mentions a note recovered from the scene in which the JKLF claimed responsibility for Sarla Bhat’s murder, labelling her a “mukhbir” or informer for security forces. While handwriting analysis conducted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory could not definitively link the note to any individual, contemporaneous media coverage supports its authenticity.

Among the gathered electronic evidence is a television interview with former JKLF member Bitta Karate. This interview has been preserved as per Section 65-B of the Indian Evidence Act and indicates his acknowledgment of targeting civilian individuals under directives from JKLF leadership. The prosecution argues that this statement suggests Sarla Bhat’s murder was part of a broader strategy of violence rather than a singular incident.

In a related context, in 2019, the Indian government imposed a ban on the JKLF under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir. This ban was renewed for a further five years in 2024, reflecting ongoing concerns over the organisation’s activities.

Final Movements of Sarla Bhat

The chargesheet includes testimonies from colleagues of Sarla Bhat at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, where she was employed. According to the statements, Bhat continued her duties despite receiving threats, and she was last seen at the hospital on the day of her abduction. The named accused in this case are Yasin Malik, Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Idrees, and Ghulam Mohammad Taploo.

Reports indicate that Sheikh, Sofi, and Taploo have since passed away, while steps have been initiated to locate Chalkoo, who is believed to have fled to Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to seek justice for Sarla Bhat’s tragic murder.

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