A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mohali, Punjab, has sentenced three men to rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in a 2018 terror conspiracy case linked to the banned terrorist organisation Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGH). The verdict marks the culmination of a long-running investigation into an alleged plot involving weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials recovered from a hostel room in Jalandhar.
The convicted individuals have been identified as Zahid Gulzar of Awantipora, Yasir Rafiq Bhat of Tral, and Mohammad Idris Shah of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir. Yasir Rafiq Bhat is reported to be a cousin of slain AGH chief Zakir Musa. The court found the trio guilty under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Explosive Substances Act.
According to the NIA, the case originated in October 2018 when Punjab Police conducted a search operation at the hostel of the CT Institute in Shahpur, Jalandhar. During the raid, investigators recovered arms, ammunition, and explosive materials from a room occupied by the accused. The seriousness of the recovery prompted the Union government to transfer the investigation to the NIA in November 2018.
The special court had convicted the three accused on June 1 and pronounced the sentences on June 4. The punishment ranges from five to ten years of rigorous imprisonment under different charges. However, since the sentences will run concurrently, each of the three convicts will serve a maximum of ten years in prison.
Investigators told the court that the accused were part of a conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities and destabilize the country's democratic framework. The prosecution relied on scientific, forensic, and digital evidence, including mobile phone records and encrypted communication data, to establish their involvement in the conspiracy. Despite some witnesses turning hostile during the trial, the court concluded that the evidence presented by the NIA was sufficient to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Another accused in the case, Suhail Ahmed Bhat, was acquitted after the court found insufficient evidence to establish his involvement in the conspiracy.
The judgment is being viewed as a significant development in India's efforts to combat terrorism and dismantle networks linked to extremist organisations. The defence has indicated that it may challenge the verdict before a higher court.
