Sajjad Ahmed Khan, whose two brothers were killed during separate encounters with Governmet Forces in south Kashmir is among the five people convicted in ‘Jaish e Muhammad’ conspiracy case.
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According to news reports reaching The Kashmiriyat Sajad Sajad Ahmad Khan son of Ghulam Nabi Khan, a resident of Handoora in Tral of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district was convicted for life imprisonment (rigorous) and fine u/s 121 A, 120B IPC, 18, 18B, 38, 39 UA (P) Act and 120B IPC read with sections 4, 5 of Explosives Substances Act by a NIA court in New Delhi.
Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, a family member of the youth, Sajjad Ahmed Khan said, “The family got to know of the arrest of Sajjad around February 22, 2019.”
However, the National Investigating claimed that Delhi police arrested the “Jaish-e-Mohammad militant” Sajjad Ahmad Khan on March 21, 2019, around Delhi’s Red Fort.
Sajad Ahmed Khan was lodged into Delhi Tihar Jail and has been under detention at Tihar jail in Delhi since.
“Sajjad and six other people working with him had been arrested by Delhi Police in February and we immediately got to know that,” the family member told The Kashmiriyat, adding, “The other six people were released after some time. When his father asked police about his Son’s detention, they said that he will be released after some time.”
Sajjad worked as a shawl vendor with six others in Delhi. “He had gone to Delhi like hundreds of Kashmiris, who go every year to Delhi and other places to sell winter stock from Kashmir as chill intensifies across North India,” the family member said.
Sajad Ahmad Khan had been sent to Delhi to carry out reconnaissance of important targets and to establish a hideout in Delhi. The main aim was to identify, radicalize and recruit youth, impart them training in handling of weapons and explosives and fieldcraft and raise funds, procure weapons etc. in order to execute their nefarious designs, the NIA said in its chargesheet.
The Court also sentenced Bilal Ahmad Mir alias Billa, son of Farooq Ahmad Mir of Gadpora, Tral Pulwama, to life imprisonment (rigorous) and fine under sections 121 A, 120 B IPC, 18, 38, 39 UA (P) Act and 120B IPC read with sections 4, 5 of Explosives Substances Act, and Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat @ Muzaffar Bhat, son of Abdul Ganie Bhat of Monghama for life U/S 121 A, 122, 120 B IPC, 18, 23, 38, 39 UA (P) Act and section 4 of Explosives Substances Act,
Ishfaq Ahmad Bhat alias Ishfaq, son of Abdul Mazid Bhat of Khalpora, Marhama, Anantnag, was sentenced to life imprisonment (rigorous) and fine under sections 121 A, 120 B IPC, 18, 19, 38, 39 UA (P) Act and sections 4, 5 of the Explosives Substances Act, Mehraj-Ud-din Chopan alias Mehraj, son of Late Ghulam Rasool Chopan of Handoora, Pulwama, was sentenced to life in prison (rigorous) and a fine under sections 121 A, 120 B of the IPC, 18, 38, and 39 of the UA (P) Act, and sections 4, 5 of the Explosives Substances Act.
Another accused convicted in the case is Tanveer Ahmed Ganie , son of, Ghulam Mohiuddin Ganie of Mandoora, Tral, Pulwama was convicted for 5 years imprisonment (rigorous) and fine u/s 120B IPC, 18, 38 UA (P) Act, they said.
The ‘Jaish e Muhammad plot’ case began in 2019 when top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leaders, including Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, thought to be a relative of Masood Azhar and located in Pakistan, began recruiting people to carry out violent activities in various parts of India.
According to the NIA, all of the accused, particularly Bilal Mir and Muzaffar Bhat, carried out reconnaissance of targets, arranged hideouts, and provided logistical support to terrorists planning militant attacks in India.