NIA demands death sentence for Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik

New Delhi: India's top anti-terrorism investigation agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has once again appealed for the death sentence for Muhammad Yasin Malik, a prominent Kashmiri independence figure and former rebel leader. This move comes after Malik was initially sentenced to life imprisonment. Official sources have confirmed this development.

Muhammad Yasin Malik, aged 57, is the chief of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). Last year, he pleaded guilty to funding terrorism, although he had refused to accept a government-appointed lawyer or defend himself against the charges. Despite the NIA's initial plea for capital punishment, the court had rejected it, stating that the death penalty should only be applied in cases that "shock the collective consciousness" of society.

In its latest petition, the NIA has approached the High Court in New Delhi seeking the death sentence for Malik, as confirmed by a senior security official in Indian-administered Kashmir. The petition is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, according to the legal news website Bar and Bench.

The JKLF, led by Malik, spearheaded an armed insurgency in 1989 in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir. The region, a part of which has been administered by Pakistan since 1947, has witnessed a long-standing struggle for independence from both countries. In response, India launched a large-scale military campaign, resulting in the loss of numerous lives, including civilians, soldiers, and rebels.

However, in 1994, Malik renounced violence and began advocating peacefully for independence. He engaged in dialogue with Indian leaders, including two prime ministers, over the following years. Despite his efforts, he faced repeated arrests and spent a total of 14 years in prison, where he claimed to have been subjected to torture. Finally, in 2018, he was arrested again, just months before the Indian government revoked the region's semi-autonomy, leading to a prolonged lockdown and a communication blockade.

Tensions have persisted in the Muslim-majority region since then, with many accusing Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to alter the demographic balance. Malik gained prominence in 1990 when his group abducted the daughter of India's interior minister and secured the release of five colleagues from Indian prisons in exchange for her freedom.

The upcoming hearing in the High Court will determine whether the NIA's plea for the death sentence will be accepted or rejected, marking a crucial moment in the ongoing legal proceedings against Muhammad Yasin Malik.