Two men charged with criminal conspiracy to raise funds and recruit people for the Islamic State, on Wednesday, moved a Special Court here pleading guilty to the charges, saying they are remorseful and want to join the mainstream.
Notice to NIA
Azhar-ul-Islam (24) from Jammu and Kashmir and Mohammed Farhan Shaikh (25) from Maharashtra decided to admit to the charges about a month after the court decided to send them for trial. District Judge Amar Nath, who is seized of the case, issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) asking it to file replies to the pleas by the accused by April 10.
The application moved through M. S. Khan, the counsel for the two accused, said that the “accused are remorseful of the acts alleged against them. There is no prior criminal record against them and they want to join the mainstream, be productive for society and rehabilitate themselves.”
“The applicants are pleading guilty without any pressure, threat, coercion or undue influence,” the accused said in their joint application. The court had last month framed charges against both the accused and Adnan Hassan (36) for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy to raise funds and recruit people for the IS.
