INDIA: A Delhi court sentenced Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik to life in jail on Wednesday in connection with a terror funding case. Malik had previously pled guilty to all charges in the case, including those brought under the strict Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The NIA court sentenced him to life in prison under IPC section 121 (waging war against India) and UAPA section 17 (raising finances for terrorism).
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which was investigating the case, had sought the death penalty for Malik.
Malik, 56, was also fined more than Rs 10 lakh by the court, which assessed varied sums for the several sections under which he was charged.
Special Judge Praveen Singh also handed down sentences under the UAPA and IPC for various offences. Malik, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front president, was taken to the courtroom earlier under strong security cover, with paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel also present.
On May 19, special judge Praveen Singh convicted Malik and ordered the NIA to analyse his financial condition to establish the likely fine amount.
The maximum punishment for the offences committed by him was the death penalty, while the minimum sentence was life imprisonment.
Malik had declared in court earlier on Wednesday that he has “adopted the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi” since he rejected violence. Malik reportedly claimed to have met seven Indian prime ministers and challenged any intelligence agency to prove that he was involved in any terrorist action after 1994 when he gave up his guns.
Malik told the court on May 10 that he would not contest the charges, which included sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (member of terrorist gang or organization) of the UAPA, as well as sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC.
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