Kerala man convicted in Islamic State recruitment case, gets 5 years in jail

A Kerala native was convicted by the NIA Court in Kochi in connection with the Islamic State recruitment case. He was sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000.

A special NIA Court in Kochi convicted Shaibu Nihar, a native of Koduvally in Kerala’s Kozhikode, accused in the Wandoor Islamic State (IS) recruitment case. He was convicted under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Court observed that the accused is convicted and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years under Section 125 IPC and to pay a fine of 10,000.

The Station House Officer of Wandoor police station registered the above case on November 6, 2017. The case was registered after it was revealed that around seven people travelled to IS territory in 2015 and 2017.

Later, considering the gravity of the offences, the Ministry of Home Affairs, by its order in May 2018, directed the NIA to take up the investigation. The six others accused in the case are absconding.

Judge Anil K Bhaskar observed, “The facts placed by the prosecution sufficiently constitute the offences charged. All the relevant facts constituting the offences charged were explained to the A1 Shaibu Nihar and the accused clearly understood the gravity of the accusation on which he had been sought to be tried. He fully realised the consequences that may ensue based on the admission of guilt, and only thereafter did he make his plea.”