"Deliberate attempt to provoke people": Hurriyat on NIA seeking death penalty for Malik

Srinagar: Kashmiri moderate separatist group All Parties Hurriyat Conference on Sunday said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seeking the death penalty for Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik seems a “deliberate attempt to provoke and intimidate people.”

The NIA on Friday approached the Delhi High Court seeking the death penalty for Malik who was convicted in connection with a terror funding case. The court will hear the matter on Monday. Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special NIA court in May last year after he pleaded guilty in the case.

The APHC said seeking the death penalty for Malik is “deeply disturbing” for the people of J&K.

“Unfortunately one after other such directives and decrees are brought in by the authorities -who claim peace and development as their agenda , which seem a deliberate attempt to provoke and intimidate people and add to their concerns and fears,” a statement issued by the APHC said.

The APHC appealed to the Government of India to release all political prisoners and leaders of J&K, and hundreds of youth, students, journalists, rights activists, traders and all others lodged with and outside jails in J&K.

“ (It will ) send a message of conciliation which will act as a catalyst for earning people’s trust and go a long way in resolving the conflict,” the statement said.

On Saturday, several J&K mainstream parties sought a review of Malik’s case. (UNI)