Two IS men sentenced to jail for seven years

New Delhi, April 21: A court here on Friday awarded seven-year jail term to two members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group after their application for pleading guilty to charges against them was allowed.

Those convicted by District and Sessions Judge Amar th are Sheikh Azhar-ul-Islam alias Abdul Sattar Sheikh and Mohammed Farhan Shaikh alias Mohammed Rafiq Shaikh.

The tiol Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Sheikh Azhar, Mohammed Farhan and one Adn Hassan alias Mohammad Hussain in January last year on charges of involvement in a conspiracy to identify, motivate, radicalise, recruit and train potential members for the intertiol militant group.

While the first two have pleaded guilty, Adn Hassan is currently in judicial custody and facing trial.

“They were members of terrorist organisation and got themselves associated with their activities. That may be their folly either on account of misguidance or lack of maturity of mind and circumstances,” Judge Amar th said.

“This court needs to take into account positive aspect from their act of pleading guilty.”

The court felt that the convicts had realised their mistakes and were willing to repent for their acts and deeds.

“In this case, the convicts should get an opportunity to reform themselves and be good citizens of this country,” the judge observed.

“Keeping in view the facts and circumstances, I am of considered opinion that there is a necessity to show some leniency while imposing punishment on the convicts, but at the same time, a wrong message should not go to the society,” the court said while awarding them the jail term.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 12,000 on each of them. The NIA submitted before the court that the accused had shown their repentance for their acts and requested the court to consider that the accused’s action was a move towards re-connecting with society. (IANS)