JAMMU, August 13: The Government Railway Police (GRP), Jammu, has arrested an absconding accused in connection with the 1991 Jammu Railway Station bomb blast case, bringing a decades-long manhunt to an end.
The accused, identified as Altaf Hussain Sheikh, son of Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and a resident of Marhama, Bijbehara, Anantnag, had allegedly remained underground after the incident and subsequently lived for several decades under a concealed identity.
The case relates to a bomb blast that took place on April 2, 1991, at Platform Number 1 of Jammu Railway Station. The blast resulted in the deaths of three persons, including two paramilitary personnel, while 18 civilians were injured.
Following the incident, FIR No. 07/1991 was registered at Police Station GRP Jammu under Sections 307, 302 and 120-B of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), along with Sections 3 and 4 of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and Sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.
During the investigation, one accused, Aman Ullah Khan, was arrested. However, three other accused allegedly managed to evade arrest and were subsequently declared absconders by the concerned court.
According to police, the GRP Jammu intensified its efforts over the past two years to trace the remaining accused. Investigators conducted detailed verification of available records, identity particulars and residential details, eventually establishing the whereabouts of Altaf Hussain Sheikh.
Police said the accused had been living under a concealed identity and had established himself as a successful businessman in the Bijbehara area, making his identification and apprehension particularly challenging.
After a prolonged pursuit, the GRP team succeeded in locating and arresting Sheikh, who was subsequently produced before the TADA Court on August 13, 2026, for further legal proceedings.
The arrest marks a significant development in the 35-year-old Jammu Railway Station bomb blast case, as investigators continue efforts to bring all absconding accused to justice.(KNC)
