New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JLF) chief Yasin Malik on National Investigation Agency's (NIA) plea seeking death penalty for the separatist leader.
He was awarded a life term by a trial court in a terror funding case last year.
NIA had asserted in its plea that not giving capital punishment to such a "dreaded terrorist" will result in the miscarriage of justice.
Earlier on Sunday, the Hurriyat Conference said that the NIA's appeal is "deeply disturbing" for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
In an e-mailed statement, the Hurriyat said, "The central investigative agency seeking death penalty for Yasin Malik is deeply disturbing for the people of the J&K." The separatist amalgam alleged it was a "deliberate attempt" to provoke and intimidate people.
"Unfortunately, such directives and decrees are brought in by the authorities -- who claim peace and development as their agenda which seems to be a deliberate attempt to provoke and intimidate people and add to their concerns and fears," it added.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday called for a review of Yasin Malik's case, while People's Conference chief Sajad Lone termed NIA's plea as "dangerous".
"In a democracy like India where even the assassins of a PM were pardoned, the case of a political prisoner like Yasin Malik must be reviewed and reconsidered. The new political Ikhwan gleefully supporting his hanging are a grave threat to our collective rights," the PDP chief said on Twitter.
People's Conference chairman Lone said the NIA's plea was dangerous.
"NIA plea on Yasin Malik is dangerous. It is a humble plea. Let you not be misled by fair weather Kashmir experts. Please — every situation has a short term and a long term. Let the short term enforced calm not blind you to the possible long term turbulence," Lone said on Twitter.
However, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari said deterrent measures should be taken against those trying to threaten the country's security.