Yasin Malik sentenced to life in terror funding case, NIA court verdict

Yasin Malik terror funding case: Delhi's Patiala House Court has sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik to life imprisonment. Along with this, a fine of 10 lakh has also been imposed on him. It is clear from the decision of the NIA court that now Yasin Malik will be in jail for the whole life as he has been sentenced to life imprisonment in two sections. The court has sentenced this under section 121 of IPC (waging war against the country) and section 17 of UAPA. Malik's life sentence will run concurrently with the sentence awarded under other sections. Earlier, the NIA had demanded capital punishment for Malik in the terror funding case. Yasin Malik had accepted all the charges against him under UAPA. Also, the debate in this case was over, only the sentence was yet to be announced.

has confessed his crime

The agency had sought death penalty for Malik before the court of Special Judge Praveen Singh, while an amicus curiae appointed by the court for his legal aid had sought minimum punishment i.e. life imprisonment in the case. The Special Judge at Patiala House had directed the NIA officials to assess Yasin Malik's financial position so that the amount of the fine could be determined. Earlier on May 10, Malik had told the court that he did not want to face the charges leveled against him. He had confessed his crime, Malik is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail and was brought to the courtroom before the sentence was announced.

Malik guilty in these cases

The NIA court had on May 19 convicted Yasin Malik, chief of the banned organization Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), under the UAPA. Malik had told the court that he did not oppose the charges leveled against him, which included sections 16 (terrorist acts), 17 (raising funds for terrorist acts), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist acts) and 20 of the UAPA. (being a member of a terrorist gang or organization) and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

The NIA chargesheet also named Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who have been declared absconders in the case.

Tight security arrangements in Srinagar

Internet was shut down in Srinagar even before the verdict on Yasin Malik's sentence was announced. Also, stone pelting took place near Yasin Malik's house in protest against the verdict. Officials said that most shops and business establishments in Maisuma and adjoining areas have been closed in view of the decision, including some in Lal Chowk. Shops remained closed in some areas of the old city as well, but public transport remained normal, officials said. He said that a large number of security forces have been deployed in the city to avoid any law and order problem.

On the other hand, Kashmiri Pandits celebrated by distributing sweets when Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment. However, they demanded that Yasin Malik should have been given the death penalty in this case.