The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued fresh summons to Kashmiri separatist Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Naseem Geelani, the son of another separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, to be present in New Delhi for questioning on March 18 and 19 in connection with a terror funding case.
The investigation has gained momentum after the major government crackdown on Kashmiri separatist in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack.
In an obvious reference to Kashmiri separatists, Home Minister, Rajnath Singh had after the dastardly attack said that the security provided to such elements who take money from Pakistan will be reviewed.
Following this, on February 21, the government had withdrawn security cover of 18 separatists including Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Naseem Geelani and 155 politicians and ‘activists’, calling it a ‘wastage of resources’.
Meanwhile, on the day the Indian Air force conducted airstrikes bombing Jaish terror camps in Pakistan in retaliation to the Pulwama carnage, the NIA had continued its massive crackdown on the separatist leadership in the Kashmir Valley. It conducted searches at seven locations of separatists in Kashmir, including that of Mirwaiz in connection with the said case.
Hurriyat head Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son, Naseem Geelani and his close aide and chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Mohammad Ashraf Sehrai were also raided.
The agency claimed to have recovered several incriminating documents, including letterheads of different terrorist organisations as well as high-end communication systems, during the raid.
The NIA statement also claimed that a “hi-tech internet communication set-up” was also recovered from Mirwaiz Umar Farooq’s residence.
Recently there were reports that based on an NIA FIR that alleged Kashmiri separatist’s activities were being funded by money from Pakistan-based terror groups the ED was likely to attach the properties of these separatists.
According to reports on March 9, the ED is in the process of identifying properties belonging to prominent separatist leaders. “We will soon file a prosecution complaint in the case. We have identified properties belonging to accused such as Zahoor Watali and some others associated with Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Watali is the key conduit between separatists and terror outfits in Pakistan. These properties will be attached in due course,” an ED official said.