NIA arrests 7 separatists for terror-funding

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested seven people, including the son-in-law of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and an aide of moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, on Monday for allegedly funding terror groups in Kashmir.

The arrested accused are Altaf Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Mehraj Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate.

The agency registered a case on May 30 against the separatists and secessionists leaders, including members of the Hurriyat Conference who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terror organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtarane Millat and the Lashkar-e-Toiba, among other outfits.These leaders have raised, received and collected funds through various illegal means, including hawala operation, to fund terror in J&K.

Sepatists in Kashmir have called for a bandh today to protest against the arrest. "The joint resistance leadership of Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik condemn the revengeful arbitrary and illegal arrests of Hurriyat leaders," the separatists said.