J&K Police reopens 1989 Justice Ganjoo murder case to ‘unearth’ plot
As a Sessions and District Court judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo had sentenced to death J&K Liberation Front founder and leader Maqbool Bhat for the murder of police inspector Amar Chand in 1966.
The J&K Police said the accused were evading arrest for the last three decades. Mirwaiz Farooq, father of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was killed on May 21, 1990.
Listen to this articleYour browser does not support the audio element.
To unearth “the larger conspiracy behind the murder of Retired Judge, Neelkanth Ganjoo” that happened over 30 years ago, the State Investigative Agency of Jammu and Kashmir Police Monday sought information from the general public to reinvestigate the case.
As a Sessions and District Court judge, Ganjoo had in August 1968 sentenced to death J&K Liberation Front founder and leader Maqbool Bhat for the murder of police inspector Amar Chand in 1966. Upon retirement, Ganjoo, 67, was shot dead by militants on November 4, 1989 in Srinagar.
You’ve Read Your Free Stories For Now
Sign up and keep reading more stories that matter to you.
Justice Ganjoo’s sentence on Bhat in 1968 was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1982 and he was hanged in Tihar Jail in 1984.
In a communique, the SIA appealed to all persons familiar with the facts or circumstances of the Ganjoo murder case “to come forward and share any account of events which has direct or indirect bearing on the investigation of the instant case”.
The SIA has also said the identity of all such persons shall be kept hidden. “Besides all useful and relevant information shall be suitably rewarded,” it said. The public has been asked to contact a number and an email for any information related to this case.
In May this year, the SIA made arrests in another case dating back to 1990. Almost 33 years after unidentified militants barged into Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq’s home at Srinagar’s Nigeen area and shot him dead, the J&K Police claimed to have arrested two people suspected to have been involved in the murder.
The J&K Police said the accused were evading arrest for the last three decades. Mirwaiz Farooq, father of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was killed on May 21, 1990.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies.
Expertise
Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics.
Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers:
Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state.
Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights.
Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
