A former Hizbul Mujahideen militant has been sentenced to 19-year rigorous imprisonment by a TADA court here for the killing of ex-MLA Mir Mustafa 18 years ago in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act court court yesterday convicted Mohmmad Maqbool Tantray of conspiring with the other accused in kidnapping and killing of Mir Mustafa in 1990. In the 61-page judgment,the judge cited the voluntary nature of Tantaray's confessional statement and sentenced him to five-year imprisonment besides imposing a fine Rs 1000 for kidnapping. He was handed down 14-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5000 on the murder charge. The court also issued arrest warrants against another accused militant Mohamad Rafiq Beigh. According to the CBI,police station Chadodra had on March 23,1990 received information of Mustafa going missing and his body was recovered two days later. The CBI,which started the probe in April 1999,found that he was kidnapped by accused Tantray alias Aizaz,Nazir Ahmed Dar alias Arif,Rauf Rasool Bhat alias Yaseen and Abdul Rashid Dar alias Imran on the instructions of Abdulla bangroo,self-styled chief area commander of Hizbul. Bangroo was killed in an encounter with BSF on June 18,1990. The court also issued an arrest warrant against Mohammad Rafiq Beigh. The other accusd have already been discharged.
