Recruited by Kishtwar Commanders
LUCKNOW, Dec 10: On Tuesday, a special court sentenced an operative from the banned terrorist organization Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) to multiple terms of rigorous imprisonment, including life sentences, for plotting attacks on Hindu temples and engaging in other terrorist activities.
Kamruz Zaman, originally from Hojai in Assam, was found guilty by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Lucknow for his involvement in a criminal conspiracy aimed at executing terror attacks across Uttar Pradesh and other regions of India, according to an NIA statement.
The case was re-filed by the NIA after it assumed control of the investigation from the Anti Terror Squad in Lucknow in September 2018.
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A total of five individuals were charged in this case, including an absconding suspect, Osama Bin Javed, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in September 2019.
NIA investigations revealed that Zaman, along with his co-accused, conspired to wage war against the Government of India and plotted preparatory actions targeting various Hindu temples.
He was also found to have participated in fundraising activities, fully aware that these funds would be utilized by HuM members for terrorist operations. Investigators determined that Zaman had been radicalized by Osama Bin Javed into joining the prohibited terrorist group.
The duo was recruited by two active militants, Mohammad Amin, a “district commander” of HuM, and Riyaz Ahmad alias Hazari, a “district deputy commander,” both hailing from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.
These HuM militants were responsible for providing Zaman and Javed with physical training and weapons handling in the forests of Kishtwar, after which Zaman was tasked with establishing bases, hiding spots, and identifying potential targets in UP, Assam, and other states for executing terrorist activities, reported the NIA.
Following these instructions, Zaman traveled to Kanpur (UP) and conducted reconnaissance on several targets.
The NIA Special Court sentenced Zaman to serve 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, alongside a fine of ₹10,000, as well as consecutive life sentences each carrying a fine of ₹10,000, and additional 10-year terms with the same fine under various legal provisions.
In cases where he fails to pay the imposed fines, he will face an additional three months of simple imprisonment for each instance. All sentences will run concurrently, as stated by the agency. (PTI)
