A Delhi court has awarded life imprisonment to Kashmiri separatist Asiya Andrabi for her involvement in terror activities. Two of her associates, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, have been sentenced to 30 years in prison each.
The verdict was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh after completing arguments on the quantum of sentence.
Asiya Andrabi, the founder of the all-women separatist group Dukhtaraan-e-Millat (DeM), was arrested in April 2018 and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for conspiracy to carry out terrorist acts and supporting such groups.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sought life imprisonment for Andrabi, saying that she had waged war against India and that a strong message must be sent that plotting against the State would invite the strictest penalty.
DeM was banned under the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and was allegedly involved in anti-India activities by inciting the general public of Kashmir for an armed uprising against the Indian government with help and aid from Pakistan-based terrorist organisations.
