Kanakamala IS terror module case: Prime accused gets 14-yr RI

Kochi: A special NIA court here on Wednesday awarded 14-year rigorous imprisonment to a man arrested in connection with a conspiracy to carry out terror strikes across Kerala and neighbouring states in 2016.

The Court had on Monday found guilty six people including prime accused Manseed Mehmood under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) including offences relating to conspiracy and membership of a terrorist organisation and support given to a terrorist organisation.

One accused in the case, Jasim N K was acquitted.

They were arrested by the National Invesitgation Agency in the Kanakamala IS terror plot case.

Special judge P Krishna Kumar said they "arrogate themselves to the merchants of death for flourishing their perverted ideas in this land of literature and secularism".

The judge awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment to second accused Swalih Mohammed and seven years rigorous imprisonment to third accused Rashid Ali in the case.

While fourth accused N K Ramshad and eighth accused Moinuddin were awarded three years RI, fifth accused Safvan was awarded eight years rigorous imprisonment.

The court also slapped a fine of varying amounts on each of the convicts.

It has found that they had not joined the ISIS but made it clear that they were qualified to be called as members of a terror gang.

"This is a case which is found that all the convicts had orchestrated a plan to support ISIS, a terrorist outfit.

It is almost an inviable rule that in such cases, while awarding sentence, a sympathetic approach is out of place," the judge said.

The Court appreciated Chief Investigating Officer A P Shoukkathali for the brilliance he had shown during investigation into the case.