NIA Court rejects bail of three accused in Sunjwan terror attack case

19/09/2026

JAMMU, Sep 18: A Special NIA Court in Jammu has rejected the joint bail application of three accused facing trial in the 2022 Sunjwan terror attack conspiracy case, holding that the material on record was sufficient at this stage to treat the accusations against them as prima facie true.
Special Judge NIA Cases Prem Sagar declined bail to Shafiq Ahmed Sheikh, Bilal Ahmed Wagay and MohdIsaq Chopan, who are facing charges under various provisions of the IPC, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Arms Act in NIA case RC-03/ 2022/NIA/JMU.
The case relates to the April 2022 terror attack near the PDP office at Sunjwan, Jammu, in which CISF ASI S.P. Patel was killed and several security personnel were injured. Two suspected Pakistani terrorists were also killed during the subsequent operation.
According to the NIA case, the three accused allegedly played different roles in receiving, transporting and providing shelter to the infiltrated terrorists.
The defence submitted that the accused had remained in custody for more than three years and sought bail on merits as well as on the ground of delay in conclusion of the trial. The prosecution opposed the plea, citing the seriousness of the charges and the alleged conspiracy.
The court observed that sufficient material was available at this stage to presume that the accusations were prima facie true and held that the restrictions under Section 43D(5) of the UAPA operated against grant of bail.
It further observed that the delay in the trial was not attributable to the prosecution and, therefore, could not be accepted as a ground for granting bail at this stage.
Considering the nature and gravity of the alleged offences and the larger interest of the State, the court rejected the bail application.
Advocate I.H. Bhat appeared for the applicants, while SPP R.S. Slathia and Public Prosecutors Chandan Kumar Singh and Ashwani Verma represented the NIA.

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