Kashmir's longest serving prisoner loses legal battle, to remain in jail

New Delhi, Aug 30: Kashmir's longest serving prisoner will remain in jail. The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea filed by Ashiq Hussain Faktoo in which he had sought for reconsideration of his life term and conviction. He has been in jail for the past 23 years.

The Supreme Court had convicted him and sentenced him to undergo imprisonment for life. After he completed 14 years in jail, he had sought his release. While the review board had granted him relief, the home ministry in Jammu and Kashmir over turned that decision.

Faktoo, the co-founder of the Hizbul Mujahideen, is the husband of separatist, Asiya Andrabi. He was a top ranking commander in the Hizbul Mujahideen and was designated a terrorist. He has been in jail since 1993 for the murder of human rights activist, HN Wanchoo.

He had, however, denied the charges and said that he was being targeted because of his political beliefs. He also said that he had been acquitted by the TADA court in Jammu in July 2001. However, the state went in appeal to the Supreme Court which sentenced him to life imprisonment.

OneIndia News