Srinagar : A special NIA court in New Delhi awarded life imprisonment to five militants of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) from Pulwama district of south Kashmir for recruiting and training youths for militant activities.
Special Judge Shailender Malik awarded the jail term to five militants after they pleaded guilty in the case. They include Sajad Ahmad Khan alias Sajjad Ahmed Khan, son of Ghulam Nabi Khan, village Handoora, Awantipora, Pulwama , Bilal Ahmad Mir alias Billa son of Farooq Ahmad Mir of Gadpora, Tral Pulwama, Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, son of Abdul Ganie Bhat of Monghama Tral Pulwama, Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Mazid Bhat of Khalpora, Marhama, Anantnag and Mehraj-Ud-din Chopan son of Late Ghulam Rasool Chopan of Handoora, Pulwama.
The judge also awarded a five-year jail term to son of Ghulam Mohiuddin Ganie of Mandoora, Tral, Pulwama in the case, NIA said in a statement to GNS.
The judge noted that all the convicts were in conspiracy with each other to wage war against India.
It said the convicts were “not only members of JeM but they have been supporting/harbouring (members)/members of JeM by providing them arms/ammunition, logistic supports and explosives.”
“The accused were also involved in enticing/ motivating locals of Jammu & Kashmir to go into militancy and arranging funds, etc. for carrying out terrorist acts and therefore they all are liable to be convicted for offence u/s 120B IPC as well as u/s 18 of UA(P)Act,” the judge said.
The NIA lodged an FIR in March 2019 and started the investigation.
The NIA said the convicts were trained by Pakistan-based JeM operatives to do reconnaissance of targets, arrange hideouts, and provide logistical support to terrorists and to carry out terror attacks in India.
“All the accused, especially Bilal Mir and Muzaffar Bhat, had carried out reconnaissance of targets, arranged hideouts and had provided logistical support to terrorists to carry out militant attacks in India. Sajad Ahmad Khan had been sent to Delhi to carry out reconnaissance of important targets and to establish a hideout in Delhi,” it said, adding, “The main aim was to identify, radicalize and recruit youth, impart them training in handling of weapons and explosives and fieldcraft and raise funds, procure weapons etc. in order to execute their nefarious designs.”
Tanveer, it said, had facilitated transporting of militants and was also involved in supplying sealed parcels, food and medicines and other logistical support. “Explosives were recovered at the behest of Mehrajuddin while detonators were recovered from Muzzaffar. Ishfaq Ahmad was highly radicalised and had facilitated radicalization of other youth and was instrumental in providing shelter to the militants,” it said. (GNS)
