In a decisive legal action against terrorism, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Chennai has sentenced a member of the banned outfit Hizb-Ut-Tahrir (HuT) to five years of rigorous imprisonment. The convict, known by the alias Saravana Kumar or Abdullah, was found guilty of promoting the group’s radical and divisive ideology.
The verdict, delivered on Monday, also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on Kumar for his involvement in activities that violate sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court concluded that Kumar had engaged in advising and inciting others to partake in unlawful activities, aiming to destabilize public order and threaten the sovereignty of India.
The NIA’s investigation into Kumar’s activities revealed his attempts to affiliate with the terrorist organization, known for its goal to overthrow democratic governments and establish a caliphate. Notably, Kumar used social media as a tool for his propaganda, posting inflammatory content on his Facebook account ‘Abdullah ibn Subramanian’ in 2021. These posts were aimed at disrupting India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
According to the NIA, Kumar actively sought support for HuT and endeavored to incite disaffection towards the Indian government. His online activities included inducing others to commit offenses against the state or disrupt public tranquility, furthering the agenda of the proscribed organization.
