Gujarat court sentences three young men to life imprisonment for waging war against state
Rajkot: An additional sessions court in Rajkot on Tuesday sentenced three men from West Bengal to imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives after convicting them of conspiring to wage war against the state.
The convicts, Abdul Sukarali alias Abdullah Hajrat Sheikh (20), Aman Siraj Malik (23), and Saif Navaz Abu Sahid (23), were arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on July 31, 2023, while working as jewellery artisans in Rajkot’s Soni Bazaar.
The ATS charged them under Section 121(a) of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to conspiring to overawe the government by force, as well as provisions of the Arms Act for unlawful possession and use of weapons. Authorities alleged the three had links with the militant organisation Al Qaeda.
According to investigators, intelligence received on July 26, 2023 suggested circulation of propaganda related to Kashmiri Muslims. The ATS said it recovered a pistol, 18 cartridges, and electronic devices containing inflammatory messages. Malik was accused of joining a network called Al Qaeda Tanzim via encrypted platforms, allegedly under the guidance of a man named Muzamil, and of persuading the other two to join.
The prosecution argued that weapons, encrypted chat records from a group named Rah-e-Hidayat, and mosque visits by the accused proved their intent to wage war, suggesting prolonged ideological influence.
The defence, however, maintained that the prosecution had failed to present credible evidence, contending that private conversations did not amount to incitement and that witnesses had testified the accused were never heard delivering anti-national speeches in mosques.
After a one-and-a-half-year trial, Additional Sessions Judge Ikramkhan Bashirkhan Pathan convicted the three, ruling that they had waged, attempted to wage, or abetted the attempt to wage war against the state. They were sentenced to remain in prison until the end of their natural lives.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
