New Delhi, March 07 (HS): A bench headed by Justice AS Oka of the Supreme Court will hear on April 4 the demand of the CBI to transfer the trial against Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik to the court in Tihar Jail instead of Jammu. During the hearing today, the CBI demanded to postpone the hearing, saying that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is not available. The court directed Yasin Malik to appear in court through video conferencing.

The CBI has filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding to transfer the trial against Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik to the court in Tihar Jail instead of Jammu. The CBI says that full facility of hearing through video conferencing is available in Tihar Jail. Many cases have been heard in the court set up in Tihar earlier also. Yasin Malik is facing trial in the lower court in Jammu and Kashmir in the case of killing of four Indian Air Force personnel and kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed. TADA court in Jammu and Kashmir had issued summons to Malik for personal appearance. Yasin Malik also wants to appear in the lower court in Jammu and Kashmir and plead his case.

CBI has challenged the order of the lower court. CBI says that Yasin Malik is not an ordinary terrorist. He has been visiting Pakistan regularly. He has shared the stage with Hafiz Sayeed. His visit to Jammu and Kashmir can spoil the atmosphere there. There can be a threat to the security of witnesses.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar