A court in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) declared a man dead 28 years after he was arrested by the Army and “disappeared” in Srinagar.
“His [victim] whereabouts remain unknown despite judicial inquiry and police investigation. He has not been heard of for more than seven years by those who would have naturally heard of him. Thus, the legal presumption of death squarely applies,” observed Sub-Judge Massarat Jabeen.
Passing the order, the Sub-Judge declared Abdul Rashid Wani, a resident of Madina Colony, Bemina, Srinagar as “dead” and directed to issue a death certificate in favour of his wife and two children.
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“The consistent version of the plaintiffs coupled with the absence of any rebuttal evidence from the defendants lead credence to the claim that the missing person was taken into custody. Accordingly, this issue is decided in favour of the plaintiffs...This court is of the considered opinion that the plaintiffs are entitled to the relief sought for,” the court said.
