Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 28: National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials are preparing to approach the High Court to challenge the 10-year rigorous imprisonment sentence awarded to Mohammed Shariq, the prime convict in the Mangaluru cooker blast case, seeking a more stringent penalty.
The NIA has expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict, contending that the 10-year term is inadequate given the gravity of the crime. The agency pointed out that Shariq is currently 27 years old and has already spent three years in custody. With the current sentence, he would be required to serve only seven more years in prison.
Expressing concern over the potential risk to public safety, NIA officials noted that Shariq would be just 34 years old upon his release. The agency believes there is a high probability of him re-engaging in terrorist activities as a middle-aged man, citing a low likelihood of reformation. Consequently, the NIA has decided to seek an extension of the sentence to at least 20 to 30 years to ensure he remains incarcerated for a longer duration.
On April 27, the special NIA court had sentenced Shariq to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000. He was convicted under Section 121A (conspiracy to wage war against the government), Section 122 (collecting arms with intent to wage war), and Section 326 of the IPC, as well as several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).