Islamic State operative and terror recruiter Yasmeen Zahid sent to 7 years in jail by NIA court

Kochi, March 24: Islamic State woman operative and terror recruiter Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid has been sent to seven years rigorous imprisonment in connection with Kerala Islamic State recruitment case by the NIA Court. Special Judge S Santhosh Kumar awarded the sentence after convicting her under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code. 

Last year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed the charge sheet against two Islamic State operatives Abdul Rashid Abdulla as the main accused, who motivated a number of youths from Kasaragod to leave India along with their families to join the Islamic State, and Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid.

Zahid, who hails from Bihar is the second accused in the case investigated by the NIA. The NIA special court in Ernakulam also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on her. Zahid was intercepted while trying to take a flight to Kabul to join the Islamic State in Afghanistan.

Court has awarded sentence of 7 yrs under Section 125 & 7 years under section 38, 39 & 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on accused: Arjun, Public prosecutor after NIA court sentenced ISIS recruiter YM Zahid to 7 yrs in prison

There are 15 accused in the case. The NIA had chargesheeted only two of the 13 others including first accused, Rashid, was in Afghanistan and one in Syria.

NIA had said the case relates to the criminal conspiracy hatched within and outside India by certain youths, originally hailing from Kasaragod district of Kerala, with the intention of furthering the objectives of Islamic State and their pursuant exit from India along with their families for joining and supporting the terror organisation.

The case was re-registered at the NIA police station, Kochi, on 24 August 2016.

A probe by the NIA has established that Abdul Rashid Abdulla was the main conspirator, who motivated a number of youths from Kasaragod to leave India along with their families to join the Islamic State. He conducted classes in Kasaragod and other places in support of the terrorist organisation and "its ideology of violent jihad", the agency had said.

Abdulla motivated one more set of 14 co-conspirators, including another accused Yasmeen Mohammed Zahid, to join the proscribed organisation and plan for "Hijrah to the Caliphate" announced by the Islamic State, it had said.