SRINAGAR: Following the federal investigator, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking the death penalty for Yasin Malik, the banned JKLF leader, Kashmir’s political class has suggested reconsideration in the case. Currently serving a life sentence subsequent to his conviction in a militancy funding case by a Delhi court, Malik is imprisoned in Delhi’s high-security Tihar Jail.
“In a democracy like India where even the assassins of a PM was pardoned, the case of a political prisoner like Yasin Malik must be reviewed & reconsidered,” former Chief Minister Mehbooba tweeted.
She was, in fact reacting to a tweet by Syed Altaf Bukhari, her estranged party man who now heads the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party. Bukhari had upheld the urgency for militant funding, justice and deterrent measures. Mufti attacked him saying: “The new political ikhwan gleefully supporting his hanging are a grave threat to our collective rights.”
This led Bukhari to delete the tweet and put a different one. “NIA is trying to be more hasty by approaching Delhi’s High Court for the death penalty in case of Yasin Malik. Everyone deserves justice, we want justice no innocent should be trapped and no guilty should be spared,” Bukhari said. “Yasin Malik’s case should be re-investigated. As we are already suffering from dark phase after removal of 370 & statehood.”
However, Sajad Lone, former minister and chairman of People’s Conference issued a detailed statement expressing his views on Malik, making of Malik and the politics of Kashmir that pushing Kashmir into militancy.
“NIA plea on Yasin Malik is dangerous. It is a humble plea. Let us not be misled by fair weather Kashmir experts. Please every situation has a short term and a long term. Let the short term enforced calm not blind you to the possible long-term turbulence,” Lone said. He questioned the actions of those who created Yasin Malik.
Lone said Malik faced nine First Information Reports (FIR) against him “when he had not even seen a gun”. “All FIRs pertaining to elections but given an anti-national form and shape,” Lone said, while referring to 1987 elections. “Let us Kashmiris live in peace. No more experiments. We need oxygen from the rest of the country as we are gasping for political breath. We cannot afford Kashmir being the oxygen for the political landscape in the rest of the country. Reminds me of Afzal Guru and Congress’s hurry to execute him,” Lone added.
“Are those who filled graveyards post 1987 outside the ambit of Law. Is it always the poor man’s son who has to face the law, who has to face the gallows,” Lone asked.
Junaid Azim Mattoo, the mayor of Srinagar city, shared his thoughts on Twitter, stating, “I disagree with Yasin Malik’s ideology and have stood to unequivocally oppose his views and his past all my life with an unwavering conviction. However, seeking a death penalty for him doesn’t help anyone BUT his ideological narrative. Justice isn’t a path taken vindictively.”
Sentenced to life imprisonment by an NIA court in May 2022, Malik had pleaded guilty without contesting the charges against him. Besides, he was convicted in a terror-funding case.
On May 26, 2023, the NIA pleaded before the High Court that not giving capital punishment to such a “dreaded terrorist” will result in miscarriage of justice. The agency’s plea has been listed for hearing on May 29, before a division bench comprising Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh.
After a short stint as a militant, Malik was arrested and, once freed, he announced a unilateral ceasefire and joined politics. He has met former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh, VP Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
