Delhi HC seeks NIA reply on Kashmiri separatist Aasiya Andrabi’s plea in terror case

The Delhi High Court recently requested the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to provide a response regarding an appeal filed by Kashmiri separatist leader Aasiya Andrabi, along with two of her associates. These three women are challenging a trial court's decision that convicted and sentenced them for operating a terrorist organization.

A bench consisting of justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan also ordered the NIA to file a response to the women's application seeking a suspension of their sentences. The court set September 30 as the upcoming hearing date.

The three women had appealed against the January 14 and March 24 orders of a trial court. The trial court found that the accused had no allegiance to the Indian Constitution and were intent on undermining the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The court determined that they had utilized various media platforms to disseminate insurrectionary propaganda and hate speech, which posed a threat to India's security.

Andrabi, Sofi Fehmeeda, and Nahida Nasreen were convicted under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, as well as criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to commit offenses related to waging war against the government, and promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, case, and place of birth.

The trial court sentenced Andrabi to life imprisonment and handed down a 30-year prison term to her two associates. Judge Singh stated that Andrabi served as the leader of the conspiracy, while her associates were the ground soldiers. In 2018, the National Investigation Agency arrested Andrabi and her associates for their alleged involvement in running a terrorist organization and spreading insurrectionary propaganda and hate speech that endangered India's integrity, security, and sovereignty.