While sentencing 52-year-old convict Jafar Umar Khan, additional sessions judge R K Gauba also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. "The convict before this court has been found assisting terrorist outfits in collecting funds for their members. It is imperative that such foot soldiers of terrorist groups are suitably neutralised for their activities to be checked and controlled," the court said.
During arguments on the sentence, defence counsel M S Khan sought leniency on the ground that the convict was an old man and some of his family members had been killed in terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir. The special public prosecutor had sought maximum punishment for the convict, saying the menace of terrorism has to be dealt with a heavy hand.
The court had on January 4 convicted Khan under the Prevention of Terrorism Act after taking into account his confessional statement, besides the statement of prosecution witnesses.
"The confession of the accused has shown that he has been working in close coordination with terrorist groups Harkat-ul-Ansar, Hizbul Mujahideen and Peer Panjal Regiment. It shows that he had received Rs 4 lakh from one Rakesh intending to pass it on to the said terrorist groups," the court had said while convicting Khan.
Khan, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir, was arrested by the Delhi police's special cell in May, 2003, with Rs 4 lakh hawala money, a pistol and live cartridges.
The court had convicted Khan, noting that he had not been able to explain the clandestine transactions and could not prove his claims that he was having business dealings with Rakesh, the person who gave him the hawala money.
