Seizes Rs 1.5cr, documents from different locations
SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today raided several locations in Kashmir and Delhi in connection with a case of alleged funding received by separatist groups for fueling unrest in the Valley.
Sources said that among those raided by the NIA were Altaf Fantoosh, the son-in-law of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, businessman Zahoor Watali, Shahid-ul-Islam, leader of Awami Action Committee led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, and some second rung separatist leaders belonging to both factions of the Hurriyat Conference and the JKLF.
Reports said that the agency seized nearly Rs 1.5 crore from various locations in the Kashmir Valley, besides documents which were being scrutinised, officials said.
After registering an FIR earlier this week in funding received by the separatist groups, the team today carried raids. Earlier Nayeem Khan and Farooq Ahmad Dar were questioned by the NIA.
Sources said that no separatist leader has been named in the FIR registered by the NIA, however organisations like the Hurriyat Conference (factions led by Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq), Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Milat and Lashker-e- Taiba besides Pakistan-based chief of Jamaat-ul Dawah Hafeez Saeed have been mentioned.
Reports also suggested that the NIA also raided around eight dealers and traders in the national, besides two in Sonepat, Haryana.
However prominent Kashmir based businessman Mushtaq Ahmad Chaya warned of legal action against New Delhi-based TV channels who he said were falsely reporting about a raid on his residence by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that never took place.
“NIA team hasn’t raided my residence as some TV channels are reporting,” said Chaya, adding that the channels were spreading lies.
Meanwhile the ED has issued fresh summons to Hurriyat leader Shabir Shah in connection with an over a decade-old case of money laundering registered against him.
Official sources said the agency has asked Shah to depose before the investigating officer (IO) of the case here on June 6.
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