NEW DELHI, Jan 14: A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi, chief of the banned women-only outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), in a significant Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case, marking a major victory for national security agencies.
Additional Sessions Judge Chanderjit Singh pronounced her guilty under Section 18 (punishment for conspiracy) and Section 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) of UAPA. The quantum of sentence will be decided on January 17.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) charged Andrabi and two associates with waging war against India through incendiary hate speeches, criminal conspiracy, and active participation in terrorist activities under UAPA provisions. The case stemmed from her prolonged campaign of radicalisation and separatist propaganda.
Andrabi, arrested in April 2018 after years on the radar of security agencies, founded DeM in 1987 as an all-women separatist front advocating strict Islamic ideology and Kashmiri independence. The group gained notoriety for enforcing burqa mandates through violent means and organising stone-pelting protests.
DeM was subsequently declared a terrorist organisation and banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The outfit maintained close ideological ties with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, channeling funds and directives for anti-India activities in the Kashmir Valley.
Andrabi’s conviction follows years of legal proceedings documenting her role in orchestrating protests, hate speeches, and glorification of terrorism. The NIA presented extensive evidence including digital footprints, witness testimonies, and intercepted communications linking her to terror financing networks.
Security analysts view the verdict as a strong message against separatist leadership exploiting gender-based platforms for anti-national agendas. The sentencing on January 17 could set precedents for similar UAPA cases pending against other Kashmiri separatist figures.
