NIA summons Research Scholar, Separatists in Terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency has issued summons to a Kashmir university PhD student, the head of a traders’ body and two Hurriyat leaders to appear before it tomorrow in connection with a case related to the funding of terror activities in Kashmir, NIA officials said today.
Yaseen Khan of Kashmir Traders and Marketing Federation, Aala Fazil, pursuing a doctorate from University of Kashmir, and leaders of Syed Ali Shah Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference Abdul Hameed Magrey and Wali Mohammed have been asked to appear before the NIA at its headquarters in New Delhi, the officials said.
The Kashmir traders’ body has called for a strike tomorrow to register its protest over Khan’s summoning. Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom is likely to be summoned again by the NIA, the officials said, adding that many points related to his statement recorded earlier were being corroborated.
The people summoned to appear before the NIA tomorrow were likely to be questioned about the alleged funding to various groups that pelted the security forces with stones, the officials said.
The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and other outfits and gangs, officials said.
The case was registered 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 pelting the security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in the FIR.
Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa, has been named in the FIR as an accused. The FIR also names organisations such as the two factions of the Hurriyat, one led by Geelani and the other by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Dukhtaran-e-Millat, an all-woman outfit of separatists.
The NIA has also secured confessional statements from two of the accused in the case. The probe agency has arrested 10 people so far in connection with the alleged funding of terror activities case. The list includes Altaf Ahmed Shah, the son-in-law of Geelani, and noted businessman Zahoor Watali. Geelani’s close aides Ayaz Akbar, who is also spokesperson of the hardline separatist organisation Tehreek- e-Hurriyat, and Peer Saifullah have also been arrested.

Probe agency to bring up stone-throwing
Kashmir Traders and Marketing Federation head Yaseen Khan has also been asked to appear before the NIA at its headquarters in New Delhi. The Kashmir traders’ body has called for a strike on Monday to register its protest over Khan’s summoning
The people summoned to appear before the NIA on Monday were likely to be questioned about the alleged funding to various groups that pelted the security forces with stones