The three were found guilty on charges including waging war against the nation, sedition and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Andrabi, a prominent separatist figure, is the founder and chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, a women-led organisation that has been banned by the Government of India.
According to the prosecution, Andrabi and her associates played a key role in promoting separatist ideology and inciting unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA alleged that the accused were part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise the region by encouraging violence, spreading anti-India propaganda and coordinating with Pakistan-based terror outfits.
The case was initially heard at Patiala House Court before being transferred to Karkardooma Court after the verdict was reserved. Charges were formally framed against the accused on December 21, 2020, following an extensive investigation by the NIA. Andrabi was arrested in 2018 and has since been lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail, where she remains in judicial custody in connection with terror funding cases.
Investigators told the court that Dukhtaran-e-Millat, founded by Andrabi in 1987, functioned as a radical separatist platform that openly supported militant activities in the Kashmir Valley. The organisation allegedly referred to terrorists as “mujahideen” and encouraged women to extend ideological and logistical support to them.
The NIA further submitted that the accused used social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube to circulate provocative and anti-national content. The agency also cited the use of television broadcasts, including Pakistani channels, to amplify separatist narratives and influence public sentiment in the Valley.
Dukhtaran-e-Millat has been linked to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and was officially declared a terrorist organisation by the Centre for its alleged involvement in unlawful activities. Andrabi’s husband, Dr Qasim Fakhtoo, a convicted terrorist commander, is serving a life sentence in prison.
Legal experts said the conviction marks a significant development in cases involving separatist networks operating in Kashmir. The sentencing hearing next week is expected to determine the length and nature of punishment for the three convicts.
The NIA has maintained that the verdict reinforces the government’s position of zero tolerance towards terrorism and separatist violence.
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