Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik Gets Life Imprisonment In Terror Funding Case

Yasin Malik pleaded guilty to all the charges including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in a terror funding case.

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik.

New Delhi: A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday pronounced the quantum of punishment to Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was convicted in a terror funding case a few days ago. As per the verdict, Malik has been awarded with life imprisonment.

According to reports, the NIA court on Wednesday slapped Malik with various charges including life imprisonment under Sections 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war against the Government of India), Section 121-A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121), Section 121-B of the Indian Penal Code, and Sections 12, 13, 15, 17, 18, 20, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 

The life term was awarded to Malik for two offences - Section 121 (waging war against the government of India) of IPC and section 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act) of the UAPA. All the sentences will run concurrently.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 10,000 on Malik.

After being produced in courtroom, Malik requested for a chair claiming uneasiness. The announcement of quantum of punishment was delayed by hours reportedly due to printing and re-verification of sentencing documents.

Meanwhile, Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Wednesday termed "unfortunate" the life imprisonment awarded to Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik by a Delhi court in a terror funding case and said it is a "setback" to the efforts for peace.

The court verdict will only fuel more alienation and separatist feelings, PAGD spokesperson M Y Tarigami said in a statement.

"Life imprisonment given to Yasin Malik is unfortunate and a setback to the efforts for peace. We are afraid that this will further compound the uncertainties in the region and will only fuel more alienation and separatist feelings," Tarigami said.

Malik had withdrawn his lawyer during the last hearing. He has pleaded guilty to all the charges, including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in a terror funding case.

Special judge Praveen Singh had on May 19 convicted Malik and had directed the National Investigating Agency authorities to assess his financial situation to determine the amount of fine likely to be imposed on him.

He has been charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country, other unlawful activities, and disturbing peace in Kashmir.

On May 10, Malik had told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC.

The court has also formally framed charges against Kashmiri separatist leaders including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabbir Shah, Masarat Alam, Md Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmad Shah, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Khan, Md Akbar Khanday, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, and Naval Kishore Kapoor.