Bandipora, Aug 21: A local court here on Saturday sentenced a pro-government gunman to life imprisonment for opening fire on a civilian and injuring him critically in August 1996.
 Pro-government gunman Ghulam Mohiuddin Yatoo of Inderkoot Sumbal had shot and injured Bashir Ahmed Bhat when the latter was coming out of Masjid after prayers at Inderkote in north Kashmir on August 14, 1996.
 The case went on for 14 years. After hearing the final arguments of the defence and the prosecution, Sessions Court Bandipora awarded life imprisonment to Yatoo this morning.
 Yatoo has been convicted for commission of offence of attempt to murder, causing disappearance of evidence of offence and using prohibited arms, punishable under Sections 307, 201 RPC and 27 Arms Act.
 The case was registered in police station Sumbal under FIR No. 92/1996. The accused was charge-sheeted in 2003 and the evidences were recorded in 2009.
 Besides life imprisonment, a fine of Rs 21000 has been imposed on the convict and in default he shall undergo further imprisonment of three months each under section 307, 201 RPC and one month under 27 Arms Act, says the order. Earlier, Yatoo pleaded for mercy citing probation of good conduct and poverty.
 Public Prosecutor, Advocate Hafeez Lone, argued that all the circumstances were against Yatoo who has openly shot at the victim in broad daylight.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:00:00 IST