Police arrest Altaf Shah for Jammu railway station bomb blast in 1991
Srinagar: The Railway Police in Jammu have arrested Altaf Hussain Sheikh, a resident of Bijebehera in Anantnag district, who was responsible for a bomb blast at railway station here in 1991. This terrorist managed to conceal his identity and lived 35 years as a successful businessman befooling the people around him and the police. The arrest was made on Thursday and further legal proceedings have been initiated against him in the court under Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.
The arrested absconder Altaf Hussain Sheikh, son of Nazir Ahmed Sheikh, resident of Marhama-Bijbehara in Anantnag, had participated in triggering a bomb on the Jammu railway station in April 1991. He was booked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to official statement issued after the arrest, Altaf Sheikh was involved in a blast that took place on April 2, 1991 at Platform No. 1 of Jammu Railway Station. The explosion had led to the death of three persons, including two paramilitary personnel, and also injured at least 18 civilians.
An FIR No. 07/1991 under sections 307, 302, 120(B) RPC, 3/4 TADA and 4/5 ESA was registered at Police Station GRP Jammu in connection with the case. During the investigation, one accused Aman Ullah Khan was arrested. Three others managed to escape and were later declared absconders by the court.
Police said that in the last two years, GRP Jammu launched an intensive manhunt. The team traced Sheikh, verified his identity and found that he had been living under a concealed identity for decades. He had reportedly established himself as a businessman in the Bijbehara area.
Following the long pursuit, the accused was arrested and produced before the TADA Court on August 13, 2026 for further legal proceedings. Officials said the arrest was made possible due to sustained efforts to track down absconders involved in terror-related cases.
Incidentally, the Jammu railway station has remained a prime target of terrorists over the last few decades. Besides this bomb blast of April 1991, there have been many attacks by terrorists on this station which is thronged by travellers from all over the country going to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
