Proclamation Issued Against Hizbul Chief Syed Salahuddin in 2002 Budgam Murder Case

Budgam, April 15 — The Principal Sessions Judge of Budgam, Om Prakash Baghat, has issued a formal proclamation against Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, directing him to appear before the court within one month in connection with a two-decade-old murder case.

The order pertains to FIR No. 255/2002 registered at Police Station Budgam under sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 109 (abetment) RPC, and section 7/25 of the Arms Act. The accused, identified as Mohammad Yousuf Shah alias Salahuddin, son of Ghulam Rasool Shah and a resident of Banpora, Soibugh, Budgam, has been evading arrest since the incident. Authorities believe he is currently residing in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The proclamation was issued under Section 512 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) after repeated failed attempts to execute arrest warrants. Both the Investigating Officer and the Station House Officer (SHO) of the concerned police station submitted sworn statements confirming that exhaustive efforts to apprehend Salahuddin within the Valley had failed, thereby stalling the judicial process.

In the proclamation notice, a copy of which is in the possession of a Srinagar-based news outlet, the court noted that the prolonged absence of the accused has denied justice to the victim’s family for over twenty years. Satisfied with the police submissions and documentation, the court directed that the proclamation be published in the Government Gazette and in local daily newspapers, and that it be read publicly in Salahuddin’s native village to ensure wide dissemination.

Salahuddin has been granted a one-month deadline from the date of publication to present himself before the court. Failure to comply will lead to further legal proceedings in accordance with due process.