SrinagarNational Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested seven separatist leaders, including National Front Chairman Nayeem Ahmed Khan in connection with its probe into the funding of subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.
Officials said that after arresting Bita Karate from New Delhi, NIA arrested six separatist leaders from capital Srinagar who according to them will be taken to New Delhi for more proceedings.
Those who have been arrested besides Naeem Ahmed Khan and Bitta Karate include Ayaz Akbar, Pir Saifullah, Merajuddin Kalwal, Shaid-ul-Islam and Syed Ali Shah Geelanis son-in-law Altaf Ahmad Shah alias Altaf Fantosh.
Pertinently, in May this year, the NIA team had arrived here in Srinagar to probe the allegations of terror funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir. The team had raided the residential houses of several businessmen and separatist leaders.
Officials said that the detained leaders were flown to New Delhi Monday evening after their arrest.
NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal told reporters, We had registered a terror-funding case related to Jammu and Kashmir on May 30 this year under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Thereafter, we conducted wide ranging searches in several cities and collected incriminating documentary and electronic evidence. We have also seized a large amount of cash. Based on the evidence we have collected and subsequent examinations of the persons today, we have arrested seven persons –six from Srinagar and one from Delhi.
At that time, Mittal said, “All six arrested in Srinagar will be brought to Delhi today and all seven will be produced in court tomorrow (Tuesday) in Delhi,” he added.
He further said that the evidences which have been collected so far clearly prove the financial trail and the direct link between terror activities and its (money laundered) funding.
The NIA visited Srinagar in May to probe the alleged funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, and questioned several separatist leaders on the issue of raising, collecting and transferring funds via the Hawala route and other channels to fund terror activities in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, terming these arrests as revengeful arbitrary and illegal Joint Resistance Leadership led by Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik has called for a complete shutdown on Tuesday.
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