The NIA court in Delhi on Wednesday sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik to life imprisonment in the terror funding sport. The 56-year-old was convicted under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“Two life imprisonments have been given to Yasin Malik, besides that 10 years of rigorous imprisonment in 10 offences and Rs 10 lakh penalty, all the punishments will run concurrently,” Advocate Umesh Sharma said. 

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The court had convicted Yasin Malik for offences punishable under sections 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the IPC. The Kashimiri leader had  pleaded guilty and did not contest the charges against him.

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He said that if Indian Intelligence can prove that he had been involved in any terrorist activity or violence in 28 years, then he would retire from politics, and will also accept the hanging.

 “Yasin said that if I have been involved in any terrorist activity or violence in 28 years, if Indian Intelligence proves this, then I will also retire from politics. I will accept the hanging. I have worked with seven Prime Ministers,” the lawyer, who attended the court proceeding, said in the courtroom, as per NDTV. 

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The judge, however, said that since he has already been convicted, there was no point in arguing on the facts of the case and that he was already given the opportunity.

The court had on May 19 convicted Malik and had directed the NIA authorities to assess his financial situation to determine the amount of fine likely to be imposed.