7 Hizbul Mujahideen militants convicted in sedition case

HYDERABAD: Seven Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a ’commander’ Mujeeb Ahmed, were on Thursday convicted by a local court in a case of sedition. First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge L Srirama Murthy found them guilty under section 122 (collecting arms with intention of waging war against the government), 124 (A) (sedition) of IPC and Section 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. The quantum of sentence against the seven accused including a woman would be pronounced on Friday. Mujeeb alias Ahmed Bhai, a native of Hyderabad was also found guilty under the Indian Wireless and Telegraphy Act, 1933. Mujeeb was arrested by Hyderabad Police on December 26, 2005 on charges of hatching a criminal conspiracy against the state by procuring sophisticated AK 47 rifles from Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin of Pakistan. Police recovered one satellite phone, Rs 1.15 lakh in cash, two CDs containing inflammatory materials and two cell phones from Mujeeb, who was known as ’Ameer-E-Deccan’ and planned to create disturbance in Hyderabad, according to public prosecutor Challa Seshu Reddy.