Geelani’s son-in-law held for funding terror

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 24

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today arrested seven Kashmiri separatist leaders, including son-in-law of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani, for allegedly funding militancy and unrest in Kashmir.

The separatists have called for a shutdown against the arrests tomorrow.

The arrested separatist leaders and workers include Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Funtoosh, (Geelani’s son-in-law and in charge of the Hurriyat legal cell); Ayaz Akbar (Hurriyat spokesman); Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal (Srinagar district president of Geelani-led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat); Peer Saifullah (Geelani’s aide); Aftab Hilali Shah, alias Shahid-ul-Islam, (spokesman of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat); Nayeem Khan (National Front chairman); and Farooq Ahmad Dar, alias Bitta Karate, (head of a JKLF faction).

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Farooq Dar was arrested in New Delhi, while the others were detained from Srinagar.

“Those arrested from Srinagar will be taken to New Delhi and produced before the Special Judge, NIA, Patiala House, tomorrow (Tuesday),” NIA spokesman said.

The separatists have been arrested in connection with J&K terror funding case under Sections 120B, 121, 121A of the IPC and Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“The NIA registered this case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including members and cadres of the Hurriyat Conference, who had been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed organisations Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Dukhtarane Millat, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other terrorist organisations/associations and gangs for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in J&K and for causing disruption in the Valley by way of pelting the security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India,” the spokesman said.