Yasin Malik handed out life imprisonment in terror funding case -

New Delhi: Yasin Malik, head of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), who had been the face of terror in Jammu and Kashmir for the past three and a half decades, has been sentenced by an NIA court in a terror funding case. Yasin Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment under two sections in the case. He has been sentenced to imprisonment and fines under eight other sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA Act. Following the sentencing of Yasin Malik, celebrations are taking place across the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir. The atmosphere is said to be tense in some parts of the Kashmir Valley.

In 2017, Hafiz Saeed, the head of the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the separatist leader were raising large sums of money locally and from abroad to incite violence and instability in Kashmir. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed a case against him. Several separatist leaders, including Yasin Malik, were arrested in the terror funding case. In 2019, Yasin Malik was arrested by the NIA. The verdict in the case against Yasin Malik came on Wednesday. Earlier, during the hearing on May 10, Yasin Malik had admitted to the charges against him. The court later convicted Malik. On May 19, the court held back the sentencing of Yassin Malik.

Yasin Malik was sentenced on Wednesday by the court under the Unlawful Activity Prevention Act (UAPA) and ten different sections of the Indian Penal Code. Special Judge Praveen Singh sentenced him to life imprisonment and additional six years in prison for waging war against the country under section 121 of the Indian Penal Code. A fine of Rs 10,000 was also imposed. Yassin has also been sentenced to life in prison for raising funds for terrorist activities under Section 17 of the UAPA Act. Yasin has also been fined Rs 1 million under this section. Failure to pay the fine will result in further punishment.

In addition, Yasin Malik has been sentenced to 16 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 under section 120-B of the IPC. The court sentenced him to eight years in prison under section 13 of the UAPA for participating in illegal activities. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison under Section 15 of the UAPA Act for dealing in counterfeit Indian currency.

In addition, Yasin Malik will face 16 plus 8 plus 8 plus 16 years imprisonment under sections 18, 38, 39 and 20 of the UAPA. He has to serve all these punishments together. Therefore, Malik will spend the rest of his life in jail. Malik is allowed to appeal to the higher court. However, he has refused to go to the higher court to challenge the sentence.

Meanwhile, several other separatist leaders, including Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, Shabir Shah, Masrat Alam, Mohammad Yusuf Shah, Aftab Ahmed Shah and Abdul Rashid Sheikh, are also being prosecuted in the terror funding case. The verdicts in these cases are also expected soon. Yasin Malik has also been charged with several counts of terrorism.

In 1990, four Air Force officers were assassinated by JKLF terrorists under his leadership. The familiimpries of the officers involved in the case have now responded that they expect justice. In the wake of Yasin Malik’s sentencing, citizens had also gathered outside the NIA court in Delhi. As soon as he was sentenced, it was cheered, and sweets were distributed. Such pictures were seen in many places across the country.