A Delhi court on Wednesday sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh after he was convicted in a terror funding case.
Special Judge Praveen Singh awarded life imprisonment based on Section 121 (waging war against India) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 17 (raising funds for terror act) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
According to lawyer Umesh Sharma, two life sentences and five punishments of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each have been awarded to Malik and all sentences are to run concurrently.
Malik, who had earlier pleaded guilty to all the charges against him, including those under the UAPA, has now the option to appeal against the verdict in the high court.
According to court sources, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had sought death penalty for Malik under Section 121 (Waging war against the government), saying he was responsible for the Kashmiri exodus.
However, the amicus curiae appointed by the court to assist Malik, sought minimum punishment, i.e., life imprisonment in the matter.
Malik, meanwhile, said that if Indian Intelligence can prove that he had been involved in any terrorist activity or violence in 28 years, then he would retire from politics, and will also accept the hanging.
After hearing the arguments, the court reserved its order and is likely to pronounce it later in the day.
The court had on May 19 convicted Malik in the terror funding case and had also directed the NIA authorities to assess his financial situation to determine the amount of fine likely to be imposed.
Malik had on May 10 told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him that included sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the 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 had, meanwhile, formally framed the 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 charge sheet was also filed against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, who have been declared proclaimed offenders (PO) in the case.
Security has been tightened across Jammu and Kashmir after stone-pelting incidents were reported in Srinagar ahead of Malik's sentence. Mobile and internet services have been suspended in the city.
Parts of Srinagar observed a spontaneous shutdown on Wednesday with most of the shops and business establishments in Maisuma and adjoining areas, including some shops in Lal Chowk, remaining shut.