Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik sentenced to life in prison

Yasin Malik was sentenced to life in prison by a special Delhi Court today. The National Investigation Agency had demanded the death penalty for the Kashmiri separatist leader.

Lawyer Umesh Sharma told NDTV that the court awarded Malik two life sentences and five punishments of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. A monetary penalty of over Rs 10 lakh has also been levied.

All sentences will run concurrently and Malkin has the option to appeal before the High Court.

During the hearing, the separatist leader asked why the Indian government gave him a passport and allowed him to travel and speak around the world if he was a criminal. He described himself to be a Gandhian since 1994 and claimed to have been doing non-violent politics in Kashmir. Malik also challenged the Indian intelligence agencies to point out any terror activities or violence he has been involved in over the last 28 years.

The court had earlier accused Malik of setting an elaborate global fund-raising structure to carry out terrorist and unlawful activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Special judge Praveen Singh asked NIA authorities to assess his financial situation on May 19. The fine was imposed on the basis of the findings.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to all the charges including the ones under UAPA in a terror funding case. He is charged with sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit a terrorist act), and 20 (being a member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC.

Several business establishments in Srinagar were shut down today in anticipation of the verdict. A few places reported stone-pelting and protests. Police had to use tear gas shells to control the demonstrations. The transport in the city continued to operate normally.