Jammu: In a major judgement, a Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court has sentenced Jamat-ul- Mujahideen (JuM) terrorist Shahid Latif, a close associate of terror mastermind Mast Gul, to 16 years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 40,000 for terrorist activity in Jammu and Kashmir.

Delivering the judgement on October 13, presiding officer of the POTA/TADA court P N Razdan ordered Latif, resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and active member of banned terrorist organisation JuM, to be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 16 years and a fine of Rs 40,000.

Shahid was arrested alongwith Giasu Din of Baramulla district, who died during trial by the Gandhi Nagar police on November 12, 1994.

In the 13-page judgement, the judge said according to a statement by Giasu Din, he and Latif had been deputed by JuM commanders to carry out terrorist activities in Jammu area and had already identified the area where they would strike. However, they were apprehended by police before they could execute their plan, he said.

The court further observed that from the perusal of the evidence of prosecution and the confessional statement of the accused, it is clear that both the accused were active members of the banned terrorist organisation.

PTI