Terror Funding Case: NIA special court convicts Yasin Malik

Srinagar, May 19: The special court of National Investigation Agency (NIA) New Delhi Thursday convicted separatist leader Muhammad Yasin Malik in connection with the Hurriyat-Terror Funding Case.
In a statement, the NIA spokesman said that NIA Special Court, Patiala House, New Delhi convicted arrested accused Yasin Malik alias Aslam, s/o Md. Ghulam Qadir Malik, r/o Yasin Gali, Mayasuma, Srinagar, UT of J&K under sections 120B, 121, 121A of IPC and sections 13 r/w 120B, 15 r/w 120B, 17, 18, 20 38 and 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his role in Hurriyat Terror Financing Case (RC-10/2017/NIA/DLI)
“The case pertains to the conspiracy by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Amir of Jammat-ud-Dawah and the secessionist and separatist leaders, including the members/cadres of the Hurriyat Conference, who had acted in connivance with active militants of proscribed organizations viz. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and others to raise, receive and collect funds domestically and from abroad through various illegal channels, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in J&K to cause disruption in the Kashmir valley by way of pelting stones on security forces, systematically burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India. The case was registered suo-moto on 30.05.2017,” the statement said, adding that “Charge sheet was filed against 12 accused persons including two absconding accused persons namely Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, Head of LeT and Mohd. Yusuf Shah alias Salahuddin, Head of HM, both based in Pakistan, on 18.01.2018. Subsequently, First Suppl. Charge sheet was filed against one accused person on 22.01.2019 and Second Suppl. Charge Sheet was filed against 05 accused persons including Yasin Malik on 04.10.2019.”
The statement said that investigation had established that Yasin Malik alias Aslam is the head of unlawful association Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), and is involved in terrorist and subversive activities in J&K. “In 2016, he along with other Hurriyat leaders formed a self-styled group called ‘Joint Resistance Leadership’, whereby they started issuing directions to the masses to hold protests, demonstrations, hartals, shutdowns, road-blocks and such other disruptive activities which would push the entire society into chaos and lawlessness,” the statement said, adding that “He was also involved in raising funds from LOC traders, various entities based abroad and distributing those funds among militants and stone-pelters for funding stone-pelting and demonstrations. Charges were framed against Yasin Malik alias Aslam on 16.03.2022 and he had pleaded guilty on 10.05.2022. The quantum of punishment will be announced on 25.05.2022.”
The NIA said that further trial against the remaining accused persons in the case continues.