more-in A special court on Friday awarded a lesser sentence of seven years’ imprisonment each to two IS agents charged with criminal conspiracy to raise funds and recruit people for the terror outfit. The offences they were charged with provide the maximum punishment of life imprisonment. District Judge Amar Nath convicted and punished Azhar-ul-Islam (24) from J&K and Mohammed Farhan Shaikh (25) from Maharashtra “observing that the convicts should get an opportunity to reform themselves and be a good citizen of this country”. The duo had last month moved court and pleaded guilty to charges levelled by the NIA about a month after the court decided to send them for trial. Facts and circumstances The accused, in their plead guilty applications, had said they were remorseful of the acts alleged against them and wanted to join the mainstream, be productive for society and rehabilitate themselves. “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, I am of the considered opinion that there’s necessity of showing some leniency while imposing punishment upon the convicts but at the same time, it should not be a wrong message to society. It seems they have realised their mistakes and are willing to repent for their acts and deeds...No doubt, they were members of a terrorist organisation and got associated with their activities. That may be their folly either on account of misguidance or lack of maturity of mind and circumstances,” the judge said. The NIA had registered a case against them and another person in January 2016. They were arrested on arrival here from Abu Dhabi. According to the NIA, Shaikh and third accused Adnan Hassan had been visiting the UAE frequently in connection with jobs since 2008 and 2012 respectively. Islam had joined them in July 2015.

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