NIA probes funding to 13 who burnt schools in J&K

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir collected details of 13 accused charge-sheeted so far in cases in the Valley pertaining to the damage caused to schools and public property.

The agency will also issue summons to Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, for questioning with regard to the matter related to terror funding.

To unearth a larger conspiracy that perpetuated violence and chaos in Kashmir, the agency had initiated a preliminary enquiry into the funding of Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Geelani, by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Saeed and also for their alleged role in subversive activities in the Valley. Others named in the preliminary enquiry include Naeem Khan, Farooq Ahmed Dar and Gazi Javed Baba.

“We are probing all aspects of funding of separatist leaders and use of these funds in fuelling the unrest in the Valley,” the NIA said in a statement.

It further pointed out that it has collected details of 13 people charge-sheeted so far in the cases in the Valley in the recent past pertaining to the damage caused to schools and public property as part of the larger conspiracy to perpetuate violence and chaos in Kashmir. “Substantial progress has been made and the probe is continuing,” the agency said.

The NIA also said the separatists were receiving funds from Hafiz Saeed and other Pakistan-based terrorists and agencies to carry out subversive activities in the Valley.