JAMMU: The Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Jammu, Tahir Khurshid Raina, has sentenced five accused to imprisonment for life in the 2013 murder of 22-year-old Nishan Mattoo, holding them guilty of the offence after a trial in which the prosecution examined 22 witnesses.
Five accused namely Surinder Kour, Talvinder Singh, Balvinder Singh, Sonu Singh and Sadam Hussain were convicted on October 31, 2026, in a case arising out of FIR No. 68/2013 registered at Police Station Gandhi Nagar, titled State vs Mst. Surinder Kour & Ors. The Court pronounced sentence on November 6, 2026.
The Court directed each convict to undergo imprisonment for life, extending to the remainder of their natural lives, and imposed a fine of Rs. 50,000 each, payable to the legal heirs/dependents of the deceased. It also recommended compensation of Rs. 7 lakh for the victim’s dependents under the J&K Victim Compensation Scheme, 2019.
During the trial, Public Prosecutor Hemanshu Parkash effectively countered the defence objections concerning the place of occurrence, absence of a test identification parade, delay in recording statements, hostile and related witnesses, and non-association of independent witnesses.
The prosecution examined 22 witnesses and relied on a combination of eyewitness accounts, medical and forensic evidence, and recoveries to establish its case. The Court held that the charges against the accused stood proved beyond any shadow of doubt.