NEW DELHI, Aug 3: The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) response to appeals filed by hardline separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi and her two associates challenging their conviction under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for conspiring to wage war against India and being members of a banned terrorist organisation.
A bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan condoned the delay in filing the appeals and issued notice to the NIA. The court directed the agency to file its response by September 15 on the convicts’ plea seeking suspension of their sentences and listed the matter for hearing on October 6.
Andrabi, founder of the banned separatist outfit Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM), along with her associates Nahida Nasreen and Sofi Fehmeeda, was convicted by a special NIA court on January 14. The trial court held that the trio had carried out a systematic campaign aimed at destabilising Jammu and Kashmir.
On March 24, the court sentenced Andrabi to life imprisonment, while Nasreen and Fehmeeda were awarded 30 years’ imprisonment each.
The trio was found guilty under Sections 18 and 38 of the UAPA for criminal conspiracy and membership of a terrorist organisation. They were also convicted under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between communities, making statements prejudicial to national integration and conspiring to wage war against the Government of India.
While awarding the sentences, the trial court observed that the convicts had shown no remorse for their actions and stated that any leniency would strengthen efforts aimed at the secession of an integral part of India.
The NIA had registered the case in April 2018 on the directions of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs against Andrabi, her associates and the banned Dukhtaran-e-Millat organisation.
According to the agency’s FIR, the accused allegedly used various platforms to spread anti-India propaganda, promote secession of Jammu and Kashmir, incite violence and seek support from proscribed terrorist organisations. The NIA also alleged that the organisation promoted communal hatred and engaged in activities prejudicial to India’s sovereignty, integrity and national security.
Andrabi was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in April 2018 in Anantnag for allegedly planning large-scale protests and stone-pelting before the NIA took over the investigation.
