NIA Quizzes Separatists, Needs ‘Solid Evidence’ Against Geelani

Three separatist leaders were questioned for allegedly receiving funds from Pakistan to fuel unrest in J&K.

Kashmiri Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. (Photo: PTI)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned Kashmiri separatists for the second day on Sunday in connection with its probe into the role of LeT chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed and hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The NIA further questioned Farooq Ahmad Dar alias ‘Bitta Karate’, Javed Ahmed Baba alias Prince alias Gazi in Srinagar regarding their involvement in raising, collecting and transferring funds through hawala and other channels for terror funding in Kashmir.

The central probe agency is probing all aspects of funding of separatist leaders and the use of these funds in fuelling the unrest in the Valley, the NIA spokesperson said in a statement.

The NIA team, headed by the Additional Director General, had asked Naeem Khan, Farooq and Baba to appear before it for for their explanation on an expose on a television channel where they had claimed to be receiving funds from Pakistan.

Khan, who was suspended by Geelani from Hurriyat on Saturday, was seen on television during the sting operation purportedly confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups.

The NIA team will also be gathering evidence collected by the J&K Police about the burning of schools as Khan had claimed that the educational institutions were targeted as per the plans hatched from across the border.

Need ‘Irrefutable Evidence’ Against Geelani

While the investigative agency holed up the three separatists, a senior Home Ministry official told The Hindu that the NIA would require “irrefutable evidence” to question Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

There is no hurry to question Geelani. We are still not done with questioning others. Procedures would be followed... There were two bank accounts related to Geelani, which are under the scanner. Lots of funds have been disbursed through it. We are finding out the source of funds. The pattern is suspicious.

NIA official to <i>The Hindu </i>on 2016 PE against Geelani

‘Hurriyat Not the Only Stakeholder’

Union Minister Jitendra Singh slammed Hurriyat saying that it is not the “only stakeholder” when it comes to resolving Kashmir’s issue as Ladakhis, Sikhs, etc are crucial participants as well.

Brighter Kashmir quoted the Minister as saying:

Our agenda of alliance in Jammu and Kashmir says that we will talk to stakeholders. But who are the stakeholders. Are Kashmiri Pandits not a stakeholder? Are Sikhs and Ladakhis not stakeholders? Are 65 per cent youths of Kashmir Valley not stakeholders... Hurriyat too (is a stakeholder). But, why only Hurriyat?