Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik Convicted In Terror Funding Case

Yasin Malik Convicted: The court said it would begin hearing arguments on May 25 for deciding on the quantum of sentence for Yasin Malik.

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik

New Delhi: A special NIA court in Delhi convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik on Thursday in a case related to alleged terrorism and secessionist activities that disturbed the Kashmir Valley in 2017. Special Judge Praveen Singh directed the NIA to assess Malik's financial situation to determine the amount of fine to be imposed. The court posted the matter for arguments on quantum of sentence on May 25.

There is a provision for maximum punishment of life imprisonment. Malik is currently imprisoned in Delhi's Tihar jail.

Earlier, the J&K separatist leader had pleaded guilty to charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Yasin Malik has been charged for hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country, other unlawful activities and disturbing peace in Kashmir, IANS reported.

On the last date of hearing, Malik told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including Section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

Special Judge Praveen Singh had earlier held that it was "prima facie" established that Malik and others were the direct recipients of terror funds.

The case is related to the various terror outfits -- Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Hizbul-Mujahideen (HM), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) backed by Islamic State -- perpetrating terrorist and secessionist activities to disturb law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has summoned India's Charge d'Affaires to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and handed over a demarche conveying Islamabad's strong condemnation of the framing of "fabricated charges" against Yasin Malik, PTI reported.

"The Indian diplomat was conveyed Pakistan's grave concern that in a bid to suppress the voice of the indigenous Kashmiri leadership, the Indian government has resorted to implicating them in fictitious and motivated cases," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in a statement.

The Indian side was also conveyed Pakistan's deep concern over Malik's incarceration in Tihar Jail since 2019 under "inhuman conditions".

Pakistan calls upon the Government of India for acquittal of Malik from all "baseless" charges and immediate release from prison so that he can be reunited with his family, recuperate his health and return to normal life, the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

(With inputs from agencies)