The Supreme Court of India on Friday (April 4) rejected the plea of the jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Yasin Malik, a former terrorist-turned-separatist leader, for a physical hearing in a Jammu court but allowed him to virtually cross-examine witnesses in terror cases related to kidnapping and murder.
The trials against him are the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former Union Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the 1990 shootout, in which four Indian Air Force personnel were killed in Srinagar during the height of militancy in Kashmir.
The CBI had opposed Malik&rsquo;s physical production, arguing that he poses a national security threat and should not be allowed outside Tihar Jail.&nbsp;
Appearing before the SC bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan through video-conferencing from Delhi&rsquo;s Tihar Jail, Malik said that he was &ldquo;not a terrorist and only a political leader&rdquo; and claimed that &ldquo;seven prime ministers had engaged in dialogue with him&rdquo; in the past.
Malik is lodged in Tihar jail after he was sentenced by a special NIA court in May 2023 in a terror-funding case.
<h2>&lsquo;I am not a terrorist; seven PMs engaged with me&rsquo;</h2>
&ldquo;It is pertinent to note that post a unilateral ceasefire in 1994, I was provided bail in 32 cases and none of the cases were pursued,&rdquo; Malik said. &ldquo;CBI&rsquo;s objection is that I am a security threat. I am responding to that. I am not a terrorist and only a political leader. Seven PMs have engaged with me,&rdquo; he said. In the ongoing trials, witnesses have identified Malik as the main shooter in the Rawalpora, Srinagar shootout, and he is the prime accused in the case.
<h2>&rsquo;I gave up arms, I&rsquo;m a Gandhian now&rsquo;</h2>
Earlier, in an affidavit filed in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal, Malik said, &ldquo;I gave up arms, I&rsquo;m a Gandhian now.&rdquo; He added that he gave up armed struggle in 1994 and has embraced non-violence. The tribunal was reviewing the ban on JKLF-Y, which spearheaded armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s.
Malik had reportedly crossed over to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to receive terror training. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had the backing of Pakistan&rsquo;s secret service, ISI, for launching insurgency in Kashmir.
Malik and his aides had returned with arms after training and waged a war against the Indian security forces, with targeted attacks on government and security officials, besides kidnapping the Home Minister&rsquo;s daughter, Rubiya Sayeed. Malik&rsquo;s JKLF lost favour with Pakistan after the formation of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir.
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In August 1990, Malik was captured and imprisoned until May 1994. After release on bail in May 1994, Malik declared an indefinite ceasefire of the JKLF. Malik renounced violence and expressed a desire for a democratic approach and a non-violent struggle for independence. He offered political negotiations but insisted that they must be tripartite with both Indian and Pakistani governments, a condition unacceptable to India. Malik then protested the holding of 1995 Legislative Assembly elections and threatened to immolate himself, claiming the Indian government was thrusting the election process on Kashmiris as a display of democracy. In October 1999, Malik was arrested under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) and again on 26 March 2002 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
<h2>Shared dias with LeT&rsquo;s Hafiz Saeed in Islamabad</h2>
Malik came on the radar of authorities once again in February 2013, when he shared the dais with Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed at a protest in Islamabad. In March 2020, Malik and six accomplices were charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the Arms Act 1959, and the Ranbir Penal Code for the attack on Indian Air Force personnel in Rawalpora, Srinagar, on 25 January 1990.
Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/seven-indian-states-are-landlocked-yunus-invites-china-to-expand-calls-bangladesh-only-guardian-of-ocean-8911289" target="_blank" rel="noopener">'Seven Indian states are landlocked': Yunus invites China to expand, calls Bangladesh 'only guardian of ocean'</a> In 2017, India&rsquo;s National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case of terror funding against Malik and four others and charged them with receiving funds from Pakistan for carrying out terrorist activities and stone-pelting during the Kashmir unrest in 2010 and 2016. A Delhi court ordered the framing of charges against Malik under the stringent UAPA and IPC after observing there was prima facie evidence that the accused were direct recipients of terror funds, mainly from Pakistan.&nbsp; On 10 May 2022, Malik pleaded guilty to the charges and chose not to have a lawyer represent him.&nbsp;
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On 19 May 2022, he was convicted by the NIA Court on charges of conspiracy and waging war against the state and subsequently sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment and five 10-year prison sentences, all to be held concurrently. Malik had married Mushaal Hussein Mullick, who comes from an affluent Pakistani family, in Rawalpindi in 2009.

India News: The trials against him are the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former Union Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed, and the 1990 shootout, in which four IAF personnel were killed in Srinagar during the height of militancy in Kashmir.

The Supreme Court of India on Friday (April 4) rejected the plea of the jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief, Yasin Malik, a former terrorist-turned-separatist leader, for a physical hearing in a Jammu court but allowed him to virtually cross-examine witnesses in terror cases related to kidnapping and murder. The trials against him are the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former Union Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and the 1990 shootout, in which four Indian Air Force personnel were killed in Srinagar during the height of militancy in Kashmir. The CBI had opposed Malik’s physical production, arguing that he poses a national security threat and should not be allowed outside Tihar Jail. Appearing before the SC bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan through video-conferencing from Delhi’s Tihar Jail, Malik said that he was “not a terrorist and only a political leader” and claimed that “seven prime ministers had engaged in dialogue with him” in the past. Malik is lodged in Tihar jail after he was sentenced by a special NIA court in May 2023 in a terror-funding case. ‘I am not a terrorist; seven PMs engaged with me’ “It is pertinent to note that post a unilateral ceasefire in 1994, I was provided bail in 32 cases and none of the cases were pursued,” Malik said. “CBI’s objection is that I am a security threat. I am responding to that. I am not a terrorist and only a political leader. Seven PMs have engaged with me,” he said. In the ongoing trials, witnesses have identified Malik as the main shooter in the Rawalpora, Srinagar shootout, and he is the prime accused in the case. ’I gave up arms, I’m a Gandhian now’ Earlier, in an affidavit filed in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal, Malik said, “I gave up arms, I’m a Gandhian now.” He added that he gave up armed struggle in 1994 and has embraced non-violence. The tribunal was reviewing the ban on JKLF-Y, which spearheaded armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley in the 1990s. Malik had reportedly crossed over to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to receive terror training. The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) had the backing of Pakistan’s secret service, ISI, for launching insurgency in Kashmir. Malik and his aides had returned with arms after training and waged a war against the Indian security forces, with targeted attacks on government and security officials, besides kidnapping the Home Minister’s daughter, Rubiya Sayeed. Malik’s JKLF lost favour with Pakistan after the formation of the Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir. Also read: Self-styled Punjab pastor Bajinder Singh assaults woman with baby, other staffers; video goes viral In August 1990, Malik was captured and imprisoned until May 1994. After release on bail in May 1994, Malik declared an indefinite ceasefire of the JKLF. Malik renounced violence and expressed a desire for a democratic approach and a non-violent struggle for independence. He offered political negotiations but insisted that they must be tripartite with both Indian and Pakistani governments, a condition unacceptable to India. Malik then protested the holding of 1995 Legislative Assembly elections and threatened to immolate himself, claiming the Indian government was thrusting the election process on Kashmiris as a display of democracy. In October 1999, Malik was arrested under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) and again on 26 March 2002 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). Shared dias with LeT’s Hafiz Saeed in Islamabad Malik came on the radar of authorities once again in February 2013, when he shared the dais with Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed at a protest in Islamabad. In March 2020, Malik and six accomplices were charged under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), the Arms Act 1959, and the Ranbir Penal Code for the attack on Indian Air Force personnel in Rawalpora, Srinagar, on 25 January 1990. Also read | 'Seven Indian states are landlocked': Yunus invites China to expand, calls Bangladesh 'only guardian of ocean' In 2017, India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case of terror funding against Malik and four others and charged them with receiving funds from Pakistan for carrying out terrorist activities and stone-pelting during the Kashmir unrest in 2010 and 2016. A Delhi court ordered the framing of charges against Malik under the stringent UAPA and IPC after observing there was prima facie evidence that the accused were direct recipients of terror funds, mainly from Pakistan. On 10 May 2022, Malik pleaded guilty to the charges and chose not to have a lawyer represent him. Also Read | Nepal making a U-turn? Ex-Maoist guerrilla leads fight for return of monarchy, Hindu nation On 19 May 2022, he was convicted by the NIA Court on charges of conspiracy and waging war against the state and subsequently sentenced to two counts of life imprisonment and five 10-year prison sentences, all to be held concurrently. Malik had married Mushaal Hussein Mullick, who comes from an affluent Pakistani family, in Rawalpindi in 2009.

JKLF’s Yasin Malik, facing trial in terror cases, tells SC, ‘I am a political leader, not a terrorist’. Who is he?

Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, the leader and founder of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA), was arrested in a high-profile operation by the Pakistani Army, the media wing of the military, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.

The army has described Imam as a “high value” target a "hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)”.

“Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was apprehended after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, spanned over months over various geographical locations,” the ISPR said in a statement on Saturday.

However, the military did not disclose how and from where he was apprehended.

The military claims that Imam was in constant touch with “hostile intelligence agencies” who “tried to exploit him to work against Pakistan and its national interests”.

The military believes that Gulzar’s arrest would hinder the BNA’s operations in the restive Balochistan province.

Pakistan’s new military operation

The arrest of the Baloch outfit’s leader comes after Pakistan's announcement of a nationwide crackdown against the Islamic militants.

“The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigour and determination,” the security committee said in a statement.

<h2>Pakistan: National Security Committee to launch new military operation against militants</h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-national-security-committee-to-launch-new-military-operation-against-militants-580326/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

However, experts believe that it could put further strain on cash-strapped Pakistan which is facing economic and political crises.

It is not only on the verge of defaulting on its payments—with an International Monetary Fund bailout programme stalled since November—the political battle between the government and former prime minister Imran Khan has also caused significant volatility in the Islamic country.

The last time it launched an all-out operation against Islamist militants was in 2014, and it cost the country billions of dollars and resulted over a million people being displaced and hundreds being killed, reports Reuters news agency.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, the leader and founder of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA), was arrested in a high-profile operation by the Pakistani Army, the media wing of the military, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said.

Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, the leader and founder of the banned Baloch National Army (BNA), was arrested in a high-profile operation by the Pakistani Army, the media wing of the military, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said. The army has described Imam as a “high value” target a "hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit Baloch National Army (BNA) which came into being after the amalgamation of Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and United Baloch Army (UBA)”. “Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was apprehended after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, spanned over months over various geographical locations,” the ISPR said in a statement on Saturday. However, the military did not disclose how and from where he was apprehended. The military claims that Imam was in constant touch with “hostile intelligence agencies” who “tried to exploit him to work against Pakistan and its national interests”. The military believes that Gulzar’s arrest would hinder the BNA’s operations in the restive Balochistan province. Pakistan’s new military operation The arrest of the Baloch outfit’s leader comes after Pakistan's announcement of a nationwide crackdown against the Islamic militants. “The meeting agreed to launch an all-out comprehensive operation with the entire nation and the government, which will rid the country of the menace of terrorism with renewed vigour and determination,” the security committee said in a statement. Pakistan: National Security Committee to launch new military operation against militants However, experts believe that it could put further strain on cash-strapped Pakistan which is facing economic and political crises. It is not only on the verge of defaulting on its payments—with an International Monetary Fund bailout programme stalled since November—the political battle between the government and former prime minister Imran Khan has also caused significant volatility in the Islamic country. The last time it launched an all-out operation against Islamist militants was in 2014, and it cost the country billions of dollars and resulted over a million people being displaced and hundreds being killed, reports Reuters news agency. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pak Army arrests top Baloch separatist leader after govt announces crusade against extremism

Separatist leader and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman Shabir Shah was arrested from his residence, where he was under house detention for a very long time, in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Srinagar.

As per sources, police arrested Shah late yesterday evening.

The reason for his arrest is yet unknown as he was already under house arrest since many months.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash">#Visuals</a> of separatist leader Shabir Shah who was arrested in Srinagar yesterday. <a href="https://t.co/36kDZtcXPG">pic.twitter.com/36kDZtcXPG</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/890085500593242113">July 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
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On Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested seven Separatists over money laundering charges, for funding terror in the Kashmir Valley.

Yesterday, all seven separatist leaders - Altaf Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Mehraj Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate - have been sent to 10-day NIA custody.

The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Six of them were arrested from Srinagar, while Bitta Karate was arrested from New Delhi.

The NIA visited Srinagar in May to probe the alleged funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, and questioned several separatist leaders on the issue of raising, collecting and transferring funds via the Hawala route and other channels to fund terror activities in Kashmir.

The NIA sleuths specifically questioned separatist leaders Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate and Gazi Javed Baba at that time.

The NIA is said to be probing all aspects of funding to separatist leaders and how they reportedly used these funds to fuel unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

According to sources, police arrested Shah late yesterday evening

Separatist leader and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman Shabir Shah was arrested from his residence, where he was under house detention for a very long time, in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar. As per sources, police arrested Shah late yesterday evening. The reason for his arrest is yet unknown as he was already under house arrest since many months. #Visuals of separatist leader Shabir Shah who was arrested in Srinagar yesterday. pic.twitter.com/36kDZtcXPG — ANI (@ANI_news) July 26, 2017 × On Monday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested seven Separatists over money laundering charges, for funding terror in the Kashmir Valley. Yesterday, all seven separatist leaders - Altaf Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Mehraj Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate - have been sent to 10-day NIA custody. The accused have been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Six of them were arrested from Srinagar, while Bitta Karate was arrested from New Delhi. The NIA visited Srinagar in May to probe the alleged funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, and questioned several separatist leaders on the issue of raising, collecting and transferring funds via the Hawala route and other channels to fund terror activities in Kashmir. The NIA sleuths specifically questioned separatist leaders Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate and Gazi Javed Baba at that time. The NIA is said to be probing all aspects of funding to separatist leaders and how they reportedly used these funds to fuel unrest in the Kashmir Valley.

Separatist leader Shabir Shah arrested in Srinagar

India&#39;s Kashmir Valley remained tense today as people stayed away from roads due to prohibitory orders and a shutdown call given by separatists over the killing of a militant. 
 
The northern Jammu and Kashmir state has been on the boil since July 8, when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, a commander of the Hizbul-Mujahideen, a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region. 
 
Armed police personnel patrolled deserted markets and roads as residents largely stayed indoors. Barricades and barbed wire were laid out on roads in sensitive areas. 
 
Violent protests in parts of the Valley, a subsequent curfew and a shutdown called by separatist leaders against Wani&#39;s killing, have kept normalcy away from the Valley. 
 
In the latest instance of violence, security forces opened fire on curfew-defying protesters on Friday, killing three and injuring 100 others, including security personnel. 
 
An opposition party leader in Kashmir blamed excessive use of force for the situation. 
 
&quot;The situation is getting worse. It is bad for all of us, for common people as well as political parties. We had warned the government before that they should stop using excessive force and pellet guns and the rampant arrests and crackdowns that are causing difficulties to people in the valley should also be stopped, only then can we hope for a silver lining of improved situation,&quot; said a regional opposition leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar. 
 
Authorities had lifted curfew from all districts on July 26, except the sensitive South Kashmir belt. 
 
However, it was re-imposed the next day after separatists called for protest march to Kulgam district town against Wani&#39;s killing. 
 
Fifty-five people have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security personnel, in the almost month-long unrest. More than 300 people have suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Fifty five people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured, including Indian security personnel, in the almost month-long unrest

India's Kashmir Valley remained tense today as people stayed away from roads due to prohibitory orders and a shutdown call given by separatists over the killing of a militant. The northern Jammu and Kashmir state has been on the boil since July 8, when security forces gunned down 22-year-old Burhan Wani, a commander of the Hizbul-Mujahideen, a group fighting Indian control of the Muslim-majority region. Armed police personnel patrolled deserted markets and roads as residents largely stayed indoors. Barricades and barbed wire were laid out on roads in sensitive areas. Violent protests in parts of the Valley, a subsequent curfew and a shutdown called by separatist leaders against Wani's killing, have kept normalcy away from the Valley. In the latest instance of violence, security forces opened fire on curfew-defying protesters on Friday, killing three and injuring 100 others, including security personnel. An opposition party leader in Kashmir blamed excessive use of force for the situation. "The situation is getting worse. It is bad for all of us, for common people as well as political parties. We had warned the government before that they should stop using excessive force and pellet guns and the rampant arrests and crackdowns that are causing difficulties to people in the valley should also be stopped, only then can we hope for a silver lining of improved situation," said a regional opposition leader, Ali Mohammad Sagar. Authorities had lifted curfew from all districts on July 26, except the sensitive South Kashmir belt. However, it was re-imposed the next day after separatists called for protest march to Kulgam district town against Wani's killing. Fifty-five people have been killed and more than 5,000 wounded, including Indian security personnel, in the almost month-long unrest. More than 300 people have suffered injuries because of pellet guns, including 171 with eye injuries, further fuelling the anger against the forces and the government. (Reuters)

A month on, India's Kashmir Valley remains tense

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