Crucial Breakthrough: Key Witness Identifies Yasin Malik as Primary Shooter in 1990 Indian Air Force Killings

A chilling revelation unfolded recently in a Jammu TADA court, marking a significant turn in the long-pending case surrounding the brutal 1990 killing of Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. A retired Squadron Leader, Ravindra Nath Mahendra, stood before the court and, in a moment fraught with emotion and memory, pointed directly to JKLF chief Yasin Malik, identifying him as the main shooter in the horrific attack that claimed the life of Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna.

It was January 25, 1990, a day etched forever in the memories of those who lived through it. A group of IAF personnel, much like any other day, were waiting for vehicles in Srinagar to take them to their duty stations. What should have been a routine morning turned into a nightmare when militants from the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) launched a brazen attack, opening fire indiscriminately. Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna was tragically killed, and several other service members sustained grievous injuries in the unprovoked assault.

Thirty-four years later, justice, though often slow, continues its course. During the ongoing proceedings, which saw the defence counsel cross-examining the key witness, Squadron Leader (retd) Mahendra recounted the harrowing details. He vividly recalled the face of the man who, he asserts, pulled the trigger. When presented with photographs by CBI officials during the investigation, he immediately recognised Yasin Malik. Mahendra described Malik as having a "very rough face," a detail that seems to have stuck with him over the decades.

Crucially, the witness stated unequivocally that he saw Malik firing a pistol during the attack. He also mentioned another individual, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, also firing from a pistol at the scene. This testimony provides a firsthand account, directly linking Malik to the violent act that shook the region and the nation so profoundly.

The TADA court, as you might remember, had already framed charges against Malik and six other accused – Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, Showkat Ahmed Bakshi, Javed Ahmed Mir, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi, Ali Mohammad Mir, and Nana Ji – back in March 2020. This particular case has seen numerous delays and complications over the years, a testament to the complex legal landscape surrounding militancy-related crimes in the region.

For those keeping track, Yasin Malik is currently serving a life sentence in Delhi's Tihar Jail, having been convicted in a separate terror funding case. His involvement in this older, but equally significant, case adds another layer to his legal battles. The pursuit of justice for the 1990 IAF killings, therefore, represents a continuing effort to hold those responsible accountable for their actions, no matter how much time has passed.