Kashmir: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Friday sentenced two overground workers of the Pakistan-backed, banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) organization to 15 years in prison. They had provided shelter, food and other arrangements to a Pakistani terrorist who infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir in 2016. The court said that through this, they had helped him carry out terrorist acts in the Valley. The two played a key role in the movement of the terrorists and their associates, the NIA court said.
Details of sentence and punishment
The convicts have been identified as Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazir Ahmed Peer, residents of Handwara in Kupwara district of Kashmir. Both have been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each under Sections 18 and 19 of the UA(P)A Act and 9 years imprisonment under Section 39. All these sentences will run concurrently and the convicts will have to undergo a maximum imprisonment of 15 years. In addition, a fine of Rs 50,000 has been imposed on each of the sections, making a total fine of Rs 1,50,000 for both of them.
What is the Lashkar conspiracy?
This case is part of a larger conspiracy by Lashkar-e-Taiba. Bahadur Ali alias Saifullah, a Pakistani national and trained terrorist, had infiltrated into India through the Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir along with his associates. These terrorists were in possession of sophisticated weapons, explosives, navigation devices, night vision devices and communication equipment.
While in Indian territory, this group of terrorists was in constant touch with their Lashkar handlers in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Pakistan. They were constantly receiving instructions to carry out terrorist activities in India. They had planned to carry out a series of attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India, including Delhi. However, their plan was foiled when Bahadur Ali was arrested by security forces on July 25, 2016. Two terrorists, Abu Saad and Abu Darda, were killed in an encounter that followed.
Arrest and conviction of accomplices
The NIA had filed a chargesheet against Bahadur Ali in January 2017. After his confession, the court convicted him in March 2021 and sentenced him to rigorous imprisonment under various sections of the IPC, UA(P)A Act, Explosives Act, Arms Act and Foreigners Act. As the investigation continued, the role of Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazir Ahmed Peer came to light.
The NIA found that the duo had provided safe haven, food and other arrangements to the Pakistani terrorist. Not only that, they had also arranged for Bahadur Ali to meet other Pakistani terrorists in the Kashmir Valley. This has dealt a major blow to the network of Pakistani terrorists in Kashmir.