Srinagar UAPA court has convicted a State Investigation Agency (SIA) investigated militant and has convicted him for six years of imprisonment for being active member of militant organization.
An official told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Amir Nabi Wagay son of Ghulam Nabi Wagay of Goriwan in Bijbehara area of Anantnag District was convicted by UAPA Court in Srinagar on 27 December 2022 and sentenced him to 6 years imprisonment under section 20 of UAPA for being an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen, a banned militant outfit; another 6 years under section 7/25 Indian Arms Act for possession of illegally acquired firearm and ammunition and 03 years under section 13 UAPA for indulging in unlawful activities especially promoting separatism and disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
Amir Wagay, also known by the code name Abu Qasim, was operating as the District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in Anantnag area, the official said.
Considered to be a close associate of killed HM top activist Burhan Wani, Amir Wagay was nabbed red handed by a team of CI Kashmir of JK Police, now mostly operating under the SIA banner on 31 March 2017, he said.
The CI team apprehended him in SKIMS Soura while Amir Wagay was on a mission to carry out a militant attack. The investigation and trial records show that on realizing that plainclothes policemen have nearly surrounded him after trailing, Amir Wagay tried to break the encirclement by attempting to fire at the policemen. However, he was overpowered and dispossessed of a Chinese pistol along with six live ammunition which he was carrying and had fished out to counter attack the policemen, he added further.
The terror incident was taken cognizance of vide case FIR No. 7/2017 registered in Police Station CI Kashmir in Srinagar. The charge sheet of the case was filed before the trial court on 16.05.2019, official said.
After a vigorous and hotly contested trial over 3 and ½ years, the court found Amir Wagay guilty of several charges under UAPA and Arms Act, he said.
Sources said that the SIA unit’s head in Kashmir conveyed that the primary objective is to restore rule of law and break the terror ecosystem by bringing the perpetrators to justice through investigation and successful prosecution.
On being asked if he has apprehensions about security of his team, he said, this is exactly what the SIA wants to break, namely the intimidation of the militants and their support networks, they said.
For far too long the militants have been ruling the landscape wherein an ordinary police officer had great difficulties in investigating without fear, witnesses feared to depose, prosecutors feared to argue and even presiding officers of trial courts remained under the shadow of the gun while adjudicating and passing judgments, they added further.
With this conviction a new phase of fight against the terror is likely to commence and the supporters of the militants are likely to disrupt it with all the means they have and this is what would be foremost challenge, they added—(KNO)