A Delhi court on Wednesday convicted Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi and two of her associates in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court held them guilty of serious offences, including conspiracy to wage war against the country and being members of a terrorist organisation.

Asiya Andrabi is the founder of Dukhtaraan-e-Millat (DeM), an all-women separatist organisation that was formed in 1987. She was arrested in April 2018. The other two convicted accused are Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, who were described by the prosecution as close associates of Andrabi.

The judgment was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who is also the special judge for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases. The court found all three guilty under Sections 18 and 38 of the UAPA. Section 18 deals with punishment for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, while Section 38 relates to the offence of being a member of a terrorist organisation.

Apart from the UAPA charges, the court also convicted the three accused under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These include Section 153A, which relates to promoting enmity between different groups; Section 153B, which deals with imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration; Section 121A, which pertains to conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India; Section 120B for criminal conspiracy; and Section 505 for making statements that lead to public mischief.

The accused were physically present in the courtroom when the judgment was delivered. The courtroom was packed, and heavy security arrangements were in place during the pronouncement of the verdict.

The court has now listed the matter for January 17, when it will hear arguments on the quantum of sentence. According to the prosecution, the punishment under the stringent provisions of the UAPA may extend to imprisonment for life or even exceed it, depending on the court’s final decision.

Andrabi and her two associates were formally charged in the case in February 2021. The prosecution alleged that they were involved in plotting to wage war against the country and had conspired to carry out terror-related activities.

The case was registered by the NIA in April 2018 following directions from the Union Home Ministry. The agency registered the case against Asiya Andrabi, her associates, and the organisation Dukhtaraan-e-Millat.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the “Central Government has received information that Aasiya Andrabi and her associates, namely Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, are actively running a terrorist organisation named as ‘Dukhtaran-E-Millat’ (DeM) which is proscribed under the First Schedule to the UAPA”.

The FIR further alleged that the accused were using different media platforms to spread messages that threatened the integrity and sovereignty of India. “They are using various media platforms to spread insurrectionary imputations and hateful speeches that endanger the integrity, security and sovereignty of India,” the FIR stated.

It also claimed that “the DEM through Aasiya Andrabi openly advocates secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and has also called for Jihad and use of violence against India”.

The investigating agency further said that Andrabi and her associates had spoken, written, and published “visible representations that bring into hatred and contempt apart from exciting disaffection towards the Government of India”.

The FIR also accused the organisation of promoting communal disharmony. It said that the group was “promoting enmity, hatred and ill-will between different communities on the grounds of religion and is doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony”.

The agency alleged that Andrabi had sought help from banned terrorist organisations. It further stated that she and her associates “have solicited help from proscribed terrorist organisations and, along with her associates, have entered into a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India”.

Before the NIA case, Andrabi was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in Anantnag in April 2018. She was taken into custody for allegedly planning to organise a large-scale demonstration and stone-pelting incident in the area. Following her arrest, she was sent to jail.

The conviction marks a significant development in the long-running case against the separatist leader and her organisation, with the final sentence to be decided later this month.