New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- In a significant breakthrough in the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror conspiracy case of Assam, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has secured the conviction of the key accused, with the court awarding him a maximum of life imprisonment for his act of "striking terror in the minds of the people".

An NIA court in Assam's Guwahati on Tuesday convicted and sentenced the accused to simple imprisonment (SI).

The accused, Md Kamruj Zaman alias Dr Hurairah alias Kamaruddin, has been awarded three separate SI punishments, with the maximum of life imprisonment. The sentences, which will run concurrently, include imprisonment for life under section 18, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and five years SI each unde...