Srinagar: Amid Clashes and Shutdown in Srinagar, the NIA (National Investigation Agency) court on Wednesday pronounced life imprisonment punishment to Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief and Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik.
Malik was brought to Patiala House Court in New Delhi amid tight security in the morning and after hearing the arguments, Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined with 10 Lakh rupees apart from other additional fines.
“Two life sentences and five punishments of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment each have been awarded. All sentences are to run concurrently. A monetary penalty of over ₹ 10 lakh has also been levied," lawyer Umesh Sharma said.
As per reports, NIA had demanded death penalty for the JKLF chief under section 121 of the IPC before the verdict on Malik’s sentencing was delayed by a few hours by the court.
During the hearing, Malik had argued why the Indian government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee would give him a passport and allow him to travel and speak around the world if he was a criminal.
Mr. Malik also said that he has followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi ever since he gave up arms in 1994. "I have been doing non-violent politics in Kashmir ever since," he said.
Malik had pleaded guilty in his last hearing saying that he is not contesting charges against him and had also left his lawyer from appearing for his case in the court. He was convicted by NIA Court under various sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and “criminal” conspiracy.
Srinagar witnessed a shutdown today in anticipation of the verdict.
Shops and other business establishments were shut in some parts of the city with fewer public transport and private vehicles plying.
Stone pelting and protest demonstrations were also reported from a few places and the police had to resort to firing tear gas shells.
“Security officials have been deployed in the sensitive areas of Srinagar to avoid any ‘law-and-order’ situation,” officials said.
Yasin Malik is the chairman of now banned JKLF (Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front) which was founded by Amanullah Khan, with Maqbool Bhat in 1948 in both Pakistan-administered and Indian-administered Kashmir for the re-unification and complete independence of Jammu and Kashmir State.
Mr. Malik took over JKLF in 1980.