Two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) members have been sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment and the other members of the HM are convicted for terror funding and executing war against the government of India with a 10-year term by a Patiala House Court.
The court noticed that the convicts used the funds for destructing properties and even killed human.
Moreover, “On the contrary, I find that the funding network run by these convicts on the instructions of their handlers sitting in Pakistan had a greater responsibility for the terror acts committed by HM as in absence of such funding, which financed the cadres of HM and provided logistic support, it would not have been possible to commit those terror activities.”
The court further observed that terror funding should come under the same category as that of actual terror act. The action of terror funding has devised a plot to strike at the heart of the nation. Thus, the imprisonment is just and adequate punishment.
The Senior Public Prosecutor, who is representing the National Investigation Authority (NIA), has argued that the crime is extremely serious. All of the convicts assisted in the transfer of funds, weapons, and ammunition for terrorist activities in India, with Mohd. Shafi Shah and Muzaffar Ahmad Dar playing a significant role. As a result, he has argued that all of the convicts should face the harshest punishment possible.
On contrary, counsel of convict Mohd. Shafi Shah contended that the convict has voluntarily pleaded guilty to the charges. He further added that the convict was not involved in any blast but distribution of funds.
The lawyer for convict Muzaffar Ahmad Dar argued the convict spent majority of his time in prison involved in academic activities. While imprisoned at Tihar Jail, he completed his master's degree in political science.
The allegations in this case are that Hizbul Mujahideen, one of the most active terrorist outfits in Jammu & Kashmir, has been receiving funds from neighbouring countries on a regular basis for carrying out terrorist activities in India, and that the said terrorist outfit is actively involved in furthering terrorist activities in India under the guise of the Jammu Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART).