Jalandhar Terror Case: 3 Convicts Get 10 Years in Jail; AK-47, Explosives Recovered from Hostel

June 4, 2026

Mohali: The NIA Court in Mohali has sentenced three Kashmiri students linked to the terrorist organization Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) to 10 years in prison. Among the convicts is a cousin of the terrorist Zakir Musa. Meanwhile, the court has already acquitted Suhail Ahmed Bhat, who was also an accused in this case.

The convicts Zahid Gulzar, Yasir Rafiq Bhat and Mohammad Idris Shah are residents of Kashmir. On June 1, the court had pronounced the accused guilty. Today, they were produced before the court via video conferencing, where the sentences were handed down. As of now, a copy of the court’s order has not yet been released. All the convicts are currently lodged in jail.

The court found them guilty of conspiring against the nation, as well as of offenses under the UAPA, the Arms Act, and the Explosives Act. These terrorists were arrested from the CT Institute in Jalandhar. During the investigation, it also came to light that they frequently travelled to and from Chandigarh.

Hatching Terror Plots While Living in the Hostel

This case dates back approximately eight years. The police had received intelligence that certain students studying at the CT Institute of Engineering, Management, and Technology in Jalandhar were involved in terrorist activities. Acting on this information, on October 10, 2018, the police raided a hostel room and arrested three Kashmiri students.

The arrested students were identified as Zahid Gulzar (from Awantipora), Yasir Rafiq Bhat (from Tral), and Mohammad Idris Shah (from Pulwama). Yasir Rafiq Bhat is a cousin of the terrorist Zakir Musa. According to the police, an AK-47 rifle, a .30 bore Mauser pistol, a large quantity of ammunition, and approximately one kilogram of explosive powder (ammonium nitrate mixture) were recovered from the accused.

Terror links established, case handed over to NIA for probe

During the course of the investigation, when some indications were found towards the accused having links with terrorist organizations, it was found that the Kashmir based terrorist group, known as Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH) was involved in the case. This organization was plotting terrorist attacks in various parts of the country by utilizing Kashmiri students studying in Punjab.

Following the revelation of these terror links, the investigation into the case was handed over to the NIA. The NIA subsequently arrested another student, Suhail Ahmed Bhat, on charges of involvement in the conspiracy. Later, following a comprehensive investigation, the NIA filed a chargesheet in a special court in Mohali.

The agency relied primarily on scientific evidence, mobile forensic data, and Telegram chats as the basis for its investigation. The probe revealed that communication and operational activities among the accused were being coordinated through the Telegram application.

62 Witnesses Presented; Including Fathers of Three Accused

During the trial, the prosecution recorded the statements of 62 witnesses to substantiate its charges. Conversely, the defense did not present any witnesses. The court also recorded the statement of the chief warden associated with the case, Kulwant Singh, as a court witness.

The prosecution suffered a setback during the trial when three of its key witnesses retracted their previous statements. Consequently, the court declared them hostile witnesses. These individuals included Yasir Rafiq Bhat’s father, Mohammad Rafiq Bhat; Mohammad Idris Shah’s father, Abdul Qayyum Shah; and Zahid Gulzar Rather’s father, Gulzar Ahmed Rather.

In its verdict, the court ruled that all three accused were active members of the banned terrorist organization, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). The investigation and the evidence presented established that the accused were stockpiling weapons and explosives as part of a conspiracy against the democratic government. An AK-47 rifle, cartridges, a Mauser pistol, and approximately one kilogram of explosive powder were recovered from their possession—items which the court deemed crucial evidence in the case.