New Delhi, 03 September (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has granted bail to two accused allegedly involved in attempts to carry out terrorist activities in Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. A bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla observed that the two accused had been in custody for nearly five years and that the trial was unlikely to conclude in the near future.

The High Court ordered the release of the accused, Sobia Aziz and Kamran Ashraf Reshi, on bail against personal bonds of Rs 2 lakh each, along with two sureties of the same amount each. The court restrained both accused from leaving the country without its permission. It also directed them to cooperate with the investigation and remain present before the trial court on every date of hearing. The court further barred the two accused from joining any WhatsApp group involved in anti-national activities or circulating such content.

The Patiala House Court had rejected the bail pleas of both accused, following which they approached the High Court. The Patiala House Court had dismissed Sobia Aziz's bail plea on May 14, while Kamran Ashraf Reshi's bail plea was rejected on March 17. In the case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered an FIR on October 10, 2021. The NIA booked the accused under Sections 120B, 121A, 122 and 123 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 18, 18A, 20, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The NIA arrested Sobia Aziz on October 22, 2021, and Kamran on October 20, 2021.

The NIA had received credible information that cadres of banned organisations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen were active in Jammu and Kashmir and operating at the direction of their handlers based in Pakistan. They were allegedly planning to carry out terrorist activities through cyberspace in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and other major cities across the country. According to the allegations, they were working in coordination with Pakistan-based handlers and overground workers to recruit local youth and provide them with training in terrorist activities as well as the handling and use of arms and ammunition.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar