Jammu and Kashmir Police execute court proclamation against Pakistan-based terror handler in Katra, Narwal blasts case

Jammu and Kashmir Police have executed a court proclamation directing Pakistan-based cross-border terror handler Mohammad Qasim, also known as Salman, to appear before an NIA court on August 21. The proclamation was read out at his residence in Angralla village in Reasi district, according to police. The case is linked to the 2022 and 2023 blasts in Katra and Narwal that together killed 13 people.

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Police said Qasim is believed to have crossed into Pakistan and is wanted in multiple cases registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court order was issued under Section 84 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which allows a court to issue a written notice requiring an accused person to appear. Police also said that if he fails to comply within the stipulated period, further legal proceedings may follow under Section 85 of the same law.

The proclamation is part of the continuing legal response to two attacks that have remained significant in Jammu and Kashmir's security casework. In May 2022, a bus carrying Shri Mata Vaishnodevi pilgrims caught fire after an explosion caused by sticky bombs at Kharmal, killing four people and injuring 22 others. In January 2023, twin IED blasts in Narwal injured nine people.

A lesser-known group, Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters, claimed responsibility for the 2022 explosion, according to the police account cited in the case material. The development matters because it keeps attention on cross-border militancy allegations and the use of legal tools to pursue suspects who are not in custody. The case also shows how investigators are linking separate attacks into a wider terror probe.

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For the authorities, securing a court appearance is a procedural step that can support later action if the accused remains absent. The use of a proclamation under the new criminal procedure framework also reflects how courts and police are handling absconding accused in serious security cases. The notice was served at the suspect's home village, indicating that investigators are treating the matter as active and unresolved.

The public has been asked to share any credible information with the nearest police station, suggesting that the search for Qasim remains ongoing. What remains unclear is whether Qasim will appear before the court on the date set by the proclamation. It is also not known from the supplied material where he is currently located, beyond police belief that he is in Pakistan.

The next key point to watch is whether the court moves to further proceedings under the BNSS if he does not comply.

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