Yasin Malik Convicted In Terror Funding Case

Special Judge Praveen Singh also dismissed Malik's contention that he gave up the gun in 1994 and, thereafter, he was recognized as a legitimate political player, observing that "in my opinion, there was no reformation of this convict" (PTI)

A Delhi court on Thursday convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who had earlier pleaded guilty to all charges, including those under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), in a terror funding case.

Special Judge Praveen Singh directed the NIA authorities to assess Malik’s financial situation to determine the amount of fine to be imposed and posted the matter for arguments on quantum of sentence on May 25.

Malik had told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included section 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.

According to reports, Malik had withdrawn his lawyer. As he had pleaded guilty earlier, there was nothing left to hear during the course of the trial. The area was cordoned off by security and mediapersons were asked to wait outside the court during the hearing. Yasin Malik has been charged with hatching a criminal conspiracy, waging war against the country, other unlawful activities and disturbing peace in Kashmir.

The court had earlier 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.

The chargesheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both of whom have been declared proclaimed offenders in the case.

Meanwhile, taking to Twitter, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla shared a picture of Yasin Malik with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and asked why Malik was patronised under the United Progressive Alliance government despite knowing that he was a ‘butcher of Kashmiri Pandits’.

“Will the Congress party apologise for this sin?” he asked.