ibn sultan
New Delhi, March 24, 2026: A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced Kashmiri separatist leader and chief of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Asiya Andrabi, to life imprisonment after convicting her in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The verdict was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh after hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence.
The court also sentenced Andrabi’s associates, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, to 30 years of imprisonment each in the same case.
Conviction Under UAPA and IPC Sections
On January 14, 2026, the court had convicted the three women under several provisions of the UAPA, including:
Section 20 – Punishment for being a member of a terrorist organisation
Section 38 – Offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation
Section 39 – Support given to a terrorist organisation.
In addition, they were found guilty under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
Section 153A – Promoting enmity between different groups
Section 153B – Statements prejudicial to national integration
Section 120B – Criminal conspiracy
Section 505 – Statements conducing to public mischief
Section 121A – Conspiracy to commit offences against the State.
NIA Sought Maximum Punishment
The prosecution, led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), had sought life imprisonment for Andrabi. The agency argued that she had conspired against the Indian state and that a strong punishment was necessary to send a clear message that anti-state activities would attract the harshest penalties.
