The Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Delhi has sentenced two Kashmiris to 15 years in prison in a fabricated case. According to Kashmir Media Service, the two men, identified as Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazeer Ahmad Peer, both residents of Handwara in Kupwara district, were arrested in September 2017 and formally chargesheeted by the NIA in March 2018.

They have been sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment each under Sections 18 and 19 of the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and an additional nine years under Section 39 of the same law. The sentences will run concurrently, capping the maximum term of 15 years. The NIA also imposed a fine of Rs. 1,50,000 on each.

The NIA alleged that the men were involved providing shelter, food and logistic support to ‘mujahideen’, charge frequently used to target and detain innocent Kashmiris. Notably, more than 4,000 Kashmiris remain imprisoned across India and IIOJK under politically motivated charges. Such large-scale arrests on fabricated charges are part of a broader strategy on part of Indian authorities to suppress Kashmiris and deny them their UN-recognized right to self-determination.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)