In a significant verdict on Tuesday, a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sentenced Kamruz Zaman, an operative of the outlawed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), to life imprisonment along with multiple terms of rigorous imprisonment. The court found him guilty of plotting terror attacks against Hindu temples and engaging in other terrorist activities across India.
Originating from Hojai, Assam, Zaman was convicted by the NIA Special Court in Lucknow for his role in a criminal conspiracy intended to destabilize the government of India through targeted violence. The case, initially handled by the Anti-Terrorists Squad of Lucknow, was transferred to the NIA in September 2018, leading to a more comprehensive investigation.
During the trial, evidence presented by the NIA illustrated how Zaman, alongside other accused, planned attacks on religious sites and raised funds for terrorist operations. Notably, Zaman was influenced and radicalized by Osama Bin Javed, another member of HuM who was later killed in a security operation in September 2019.
The investigations revealed that Zaman received militant training in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir, under the guidance of HuM’s district commanders, Mohammad Amin and Riyaz Ahmad alias Hazari. Post-training, he was tasked with establishing bases and scouting potential targets in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and other regions, with Kanpur being a specific area of reconnaissance.
The NIA Special Court handed down a severe sentence to Zaman, including two life terms and three separate 10-year terms of rigorous imprisonment, each accompanied by a fine of Rs 10,000. Should Zaman default on the fines, he will face an additional three months of simple imprisonment for each case. The court ordered that all sentences will run concurrently.
