The railway police have apprehended Altaf Hussain Sheikh, a fugitive wanted for a 1991 bomb blast at Jammu railway station, after a 35-year manhunt. Sheikh, a resident of Marhama, Bijbehara, Anantnag, in south Kashmir, was taken into custody on Thursday, August 13, 2026. Sheikh was involved in a bomb blast on April 2, 1991, at platform number 1 of Jammu railway station, which resulted in the deaths of three people, including two paramilitary personnel, and injured 18 civilians.
Following the incident, one accused, Mr. Khan, was arrested, while three others, including Sheikh, managed to evade capture and were declared absconders by the court. According to the police, Sheikh went underground and lived under a concealed identity for several decades. However, over the last two years, the railway police launched an intensive manhunt, which ultimately led to the identification of Sheikh’s true identity.
It was discovered that he had established himself as a successful businessman in the Bijbehara area, living under a concealed identity. The police verified Sheikh’s identity by scrutinizing minute details of his identity and residential particulars. This long pursuit finally bore fruit, and Sheikh was arrested and produced before the TADA Court on August 13, 2026.
