Malik, Kashmiri Separatist Leader, Sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Indian Court

Michael Olugbode in Abuja with agency report

Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik has been sentenced to life imprisonment by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court.

According to a news agency report, Malik who was convicted in a terror funding case a few days ago, was awarded life imprisonment under sections 121 (waging war against India) of the IPC and section 17 (raising funds for terror act) of UAPA by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court.

According to the report, the court has also imposed a fine of over Rs 10 lakh on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader.

The report said: “Two life imprisonments have been given to Yasin Malik, besides that 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in 10 offences and Rs 10 lakh penalty, all the punishments will run concurrently.”

Malik was found guilty of participating in and funding terrorist acts and involvement in criminal conspiracy.

Malik had told the court he gave up arms in the 1990s. He was convicted last week.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Muslim-majority Kashmir since an armed revolt against rule by India, which is mostly Hindu, erupted in 1989.
The court in the capital Delhi gave Malik, 56, two life sentences and five 10-year jail terms, all to be served concurrently.

Yasin Malik is a Kashmiri separatist leader and former militant who advocates the separation of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan.

He is the Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, which originally spearheaded armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley.