Yasin Malik Denies Role in Sarla Bhat Murder, Says He Was in Coma When Crime Took Place
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik has denied any involvement in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat 36 years ago.
Malik, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail, submitted a 25-page affidavit before the Additional Sessions Judge (TADA/POTA) in Srinagar, describing the allegations against him as baseless. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Yasin Malik denies allegations
In his affidavit, Malik said the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir filed a chargesheet on June 29 in connection with the murder of Sarla Bhat, who was killed on April 19, 1990.
He said he was shocked to find his name included as an accused more than three decades after the incident.
Malik said three SIA officers had visited him at Central Jail No. 7 in Tihar on June 2 and 3, 2026, following an order from the competent court.
According to his affidavit, the officers questioned him about two allegations.
The first concerned an alleged handwritten note purportedly issued by the JKLF and recovered from the scene. The note allegedly claimed responsibility for the killing and named Javaid Mir, Sheikh Abdul Hamid and Mohammad Yasin Malik.
The second allegation was that JKLF had suspected Sarla Bhat, a nurse at SKIMS Soura, of passing information to security forces about Malik’s presence at the house of Hafiz Bazaz and that Malik had allegedly ordered her killing.
Malik denied the allegations.
Malik cites injuries and coma
In his defence, Malik referred to serious injuries he allegedly suffered on April 8, 1990, 11 days before Sarla Bhat was killed.
He claimed that he remained in a coma after suffering life-threatening injuries and was widely reported to have died at the time.
“According to the prosecution, I allegedly directed the murder of Sarla Bhat on April 19, 1990. However, the historical record demonstrates that I had sustained life-threatening injuries on April 8, 1990, remained in a coma, and was widely reported to have died,” Malik stated in his affidavit.
He further claimed that he had been declared dead twice, first on April 8 and again on April 27, 1990.
Malik argued that it would therefore be impossible for him to have participated in, directed or organised the crime while he was unconscious and fighting for his own survival.
Malik calls Sarla Bhat innocent
Malik also rejected allegations that Sarla Bhat had been working covertly for security forces.
He said she had no connection with the raid conducted at Narwara in downtown Srinagar on April 8, 1990.
“Sarla Bhat was neither working for the security forces in any covert capacity nor was she in any manner responsible for the raid at Narwara,” Malik said.
He described her as an innocent civilian and said he considered her as innocent as his own 13-year-old daughter, Raziya Sultana.
Malik further claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF), which conducted the raid at Hafiz Bazaz’s residence on April 8, was itself unaware of his presence inside the building.
Malik says he will not contest trial
Despite denying the allegations, Malik said he had decided not to contest the trial proceedings further.
He said the decision was based on his personal circumstances and followed “deep reflection”.
Malik made it clear that his decision should not be considered an admission of any prosecution allegation, guilt or acceptance of the charges against him.
He also stated in the affidavit that he was seeking capital punishment.
SIA chargesheet in Sarla Bhat case
In June, 36 years after the rape and murder of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat, the SIA filed a chargesheet before a special TADA court in Srinagar.
The chargesheet named proscribed JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik, described as the outfit’s then “chief commander”, and Khurshid Ahmad Chalkoo as alleged masterminds behind the crime.
The case is now before the court, with Malik’s latest affidavit denying his alleged role in the decades-old case.
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