SRINAGAR: JKLF chief and Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who was convicted in a militancy funding case, made a virtual appearance before the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had initiated an appeal seeking the death penalty for Malik. The proceedings, however, had to be postponed due to the unavailability of the division bench composed of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anish Dayal.
Initially, production warrants were issued against Malik, who had received a life sentence in the case. However, the bench modified the order last week, permitting him to appear via video conferencing for the day’s hearing. This change was enacted following an urgent application by Tihar jail authorities, citing significant security concerns associated with physically producing Malik.
Pertinent to mention, Malik had been sentenced to life imprisonment by a special NIA court in May of the previous year. He had admitted guilt in the case and refrained from contesting the charges against him.
Special Judge Praveen Singh, when awarding the life sentence, noted that the crime did not meet the criteria of being a “rarest of rare” case, as stipulated by the Apex Court.
The judge also dismissed Malik’s assertion that he had adhered to Gandhian principles of non-violence and was leading a peaceful, non-violent struggle.
The court had framed charges against Malik and several others under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in March of the previous year. Among those charged and who had claimed trial were Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Salahuddin, Rashid Engineer, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shahid-ul-Islam, Altaf Ahmad Shah @ Fantoosh, Nayeem Khan, and Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate. Notably, the court had discharged three individuals: Kamran Yusuf, Javed Ahmad Bhatt, and Syeda Aasiya Firdous Andrabi.
