Hyderabad, August 29: A commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Mujeeb Ahmed was today sentenced to life by a local court that held him guilty of sedition and procuring AK-47 rifles with an intention to wage a war against the country, nearly four years after he was arrested for these offences.
Six others–Mujeeb’s woman accomplice Zohra Nishad, Jahangir Khan, truck driver Shabbir Ahmed, cleaner Ravinder Kumar, Mohammed Yasin and Shaik Awadi– involved in the case were given ten years rigorous imprisonment.
Pronouncing the quantum of punishment, the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge L Srirama Murthy awarded the life imprisonment to Mujeeb under Section 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against the country) and 121 (A) (conspiracy to commit offences) and to ten years imprisonment under Section 23 of the Unlawful activities (Prevention) Act 1967. Also, a fine of Rs 5,000 was slapped on him.
Mujeeb, who was also charged under Section 6 of the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act for possessing a satellite phone, was awarded one year imprisonment. All the sentences will run concurrently.
Before the quantum of punishment could be pronounced, Mujeeb told the judge he was innocent. Zohra Nishad also pleaded innocence and said, “I have small kids to look after.”
Of the 17 persons involved in the case, Mujeeb Ahmed and six others were arrested while ten others are absconding.
The six others who got 10 years RI were found guilty under Section 122, 121 (A) of IPC.
Mujeeb was arrested by Hyderabad City Police on December 26, 2005 on charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy against the state by procuring sophisticated AK 47 rifles from Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin of Pakistan.
-Agencies