Jammu, Feb 24: A court on Friday charged JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) for allegedly raising funds to promote militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Court charged Malik for committing offence under section 3/22 of the Act.
The 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, Sanjay Parihar, charged Malik for raising USD 1,00,000 to ‘bolster the armed activity to strike terror in the state.’
While framing charges against Malik, the court held that in March 2002, Malik convened meeting at Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Head Quarters in Srinagar, in which he authorized another accused, Mushtaq Ahmad Dar, to go to Kathmandu (Nepal) and bring one lakh US dollars which was to be distributed among militant organizations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The charge-sheet submitted by the police revealed that Kud Police had recovered one lakh US dollars from Dar and another accused while they were traveling from Jammu to Srinagar after they allegedly brought the money from Nepal which was meant for strengthening armed activity in the state.
Malik, who was present during the proceedings, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court held that the charges are framed against Malik on material evidence and the confessional statements of the other two accused in the case.
The other two accused were not present in the court and their counsel pleaded that they could not attend the court due to closure of Jammu-Srinagar Highway. The court, however, asked the counsel for the accused to ensure presence of the duo on the next date of hearing fixed on March 19 so that charges could be read out to them.
“The whole world knows that our struggle is peaceful and without blots so all the story of bringing money from Nepal is fabricated. I will stand the trial without any fear as I have not committed any offence and truth will prevail eventually,” Malik told Greater Kashmir.
Malik was represented by senior counsel Z A Shah while deputy director prosecution defended the government in the case.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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