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An NIA court has convicted Kashmir separatist leader Yasin Malik in terror funding cases. However, he has not been sentenced yet. The court is likely to pronounce the sentence on May 25.
The NIA spokesman said that NIA Special Court, Patiala House, New Delhi convicted and arrested accused Yasin Malik alias Aslam, s/o Md. Ghulam Qadir Malik, r/o Yasin Gali, Maisuma, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 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.
The 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 the 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.
“He was also involved in raising funds from LOC traders, and 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.”
Exodus of Kashmiri Pandits
The exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley started in 1990. At that time it was a general belief that the JKLF was moving forward under the leadership of Yasin Malik. But according to Saifullah, "we were all responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits".
In the recently released controversial film 'Kashmir File', two main villains have been held responsible for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley - Bitta Karate and Yasin Malik. The same allegation was leveled against him in the 1990s as well.
On Thursday, an NIA court convicted Yasin Malik in the 2017 terror funding case. The sentence will be pronounced on May 25. Malik did not challenge the charges against him in court.
The allegation against Malik was also that he had set up an elaborate structure and system around the world for the purpose of raising funds for terrorist and other illegal activities in Jammu and Kashmir in the name of "freedom struggle".
Who is Yasin Malik
Yasin Malik was the president of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) as well as one of its founders. The organization originally led the armed insurgency in the Kashmir Valley until 1989 and for a few years thereafter. Yasin Malik advocates the independence of Jammu and Kashmir from both India and Pakistan.
Later he gave up the path of violence and adopted the path of dialogue, but he continued to advocate the independence of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan. Born in 1966 in Srinagar, Malik is currently lodged in Tihar Jail. He has gone to jail many times. He was only 17 when he was sent to prison for the first time.
He claims that he took up arms after witnessing violence by Indian security forces in 1980.
He made public appearances in the Valley in 1983 when he tried to disrupt the first international cricket match in Srinagar against the West Indies in Srinagar. He was arrested after which he was imprisoned for four months.
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