Life Sentence “Till Death” for Trio Spreading Jihadi Propaganda

A sessions court in Rajkot delivered a landmark verdict on Wednesday, sentencing three individuals from West Bengal—Aman Siraj Malik (23), Abdul Shakur Ali Sheikh (20), and Shafnawaz Abu Shahid (23)—to life imprisonment "till their last breath" for their roles in a chilling conspiracy against the Indian government. The trio was found guilty of spreading anti-national jihadi propaganda aimed at radicalizing youth and promoting terrorist activities linked to Al Qaeda.

The case, prosecuted by Additional Sessions Judge IB Pathan, culminated in a rigorous trial that exposed the accused's covert operations. Each convict was fined ₹10,000 in addition to their life sentences, as confirmed by district government lawyer S K Vora. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested the trio in July 2023 after receiving intelligence that they were operating under the guise of artisans at an imitation jewelry unit in Rajkot’s Soni Bazar. Their activities, however, extended far beyond their day jobs.

According to the ATS, the accused were actively involved in disseminating radical jihadi propaganda from a local mosque, working under the direction of a Bangladeshi handler linked to Al Qaeda. The handler, identified as a key figure in Al Qaeda’s Bangladesh operations, used highly encrypted messaging platforms like Telegram to communicate instructions. These instructions included radicalizing and recruiting vulnerable youth to further the terrorist organization’s agenda in India.

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The ATS operation that led to their arrests was swift and precise. Two of the accused were apprehended at Rajkot railway station, while the third was detained at a residential building in the city. A search of their possessions uncovered a country-made semi-automatic pistol, live cartridges, radical literature, and incriminating videos that detailed their extremist activities. These materials provided critical evidence of their intent to destabilize the nation through propaganda and potential violence.

During the trial, Vora presented compelling evidence, including WhatsApp chats retrieved from the accused’s mobile phones. These conversations revealed their efforts to incite a section of the Muslim community to engage in anti-national activities, particularly targeting sentiments around Kashmir. The prosecution also highlighted the recovery of the revolver and cartridges, underscoring the accused’s readiness to escalate their actions into criminal violence.

The defense attempted to counter these claims by presenting two witnesses from the Muslim community who testified that they had never observed the accused preaching anti-national propaganda at the mosque. However, cross-examination revealed that these witnesses spent only 15-20 minutes daily at the mosque for prayers and were unaware of the accused’s activities outside those brief periods, weakening their testimony.

In his arguments, Vora emphasized the severity of the crime, warning that leniency could embolden the accused to resume their dangerous activities upon release. He described their actions as driven by a deep-seated commitment to jihadi ideology, noting their deliberate relocation from West Bengal to Rajkot to spread anti-government propaganda. This calculated move, coupled with their collaboration with a foreign handler, posed a significant threat to national security.

The court’s decision to impose life imprisonment "till their last breath" reflects the gravity of their offenses. The verdict sends a strong message about India’s resolve to combat terrorism and radicalization, particularly in cases involving foreign influence and anti-national conspiracies.

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