The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association today expelled Syeed Ali Shah Geelani’s aide Devinder Singh Behl, who was detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday on the charges of terror funding.
Bar association president Bhupinder Singh Slathia announced the association’s decision on expulsion of Behl from the primary membership at a press conference.
Slathia said anti-national elements, like Behl, would not be allowed to remain member of the association. He said the decision to expel him was taken unanimously by members.
The NIA had on Sunday conducted raids at the residence and the office of Behl, who is a small-time advocate and a member of the legal cell of the Hurriyat. Behl is a close associate of top Hurriyat leaders and regularly attends funerals of militants.
A frequent visitor to the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, Behl was suspected to be involved in routing funds to the separatist leaders from their Pakistan-based handlers.
“As soon as we came to know about his (Behl’s) activities, we verified our records and immediately decided to expel him without any notice from the primary membership of the association,” Slathia said.
“Ours is a nationalist association and we will not tolerate the presence of any ‘anti-national’ element, whether associated with the Hurriyat or any other group,” he said, adding that Behl had become a member in 2013 on the recommendation of two senior advocates.
Jammu Bar body expels Geelani aide
