NIA arrests Andrabi, two aides

Samaan Lateef

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 6

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested hardline woman separatist leader and chief of Dhukhtaran-e-Millat Asiya Andrabi along with her two associates for secessionist activities.

The central agency, which is probing the funding of the secessionist activities in Kashmir, took the custody of the trio from Central Jail, Srinagar. The three leaders were facing charges under the Public Safety Act and were in judicial custody. “She (Andrabi) and her two associates have been arrested by the agency,” said NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal.

They were produced before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House Court, New Delhi, which remanded them to 10-day NIA custody for interrogation and investigation.

“The allegations against the accused are that they have been using various media platforms to spread insurrectionary imputations and hateful speeches that advocate use of violence against India and secession of the state of J&K from the Union of India,” Mittal said.

Andrabi and her associates have written and spoken words that excite disaffection towards the Government of India and promote enmity, he said. According to the NIA, Andrabi also solicited help from other banned terrorist organisations to wage war against the government.