Appearance of separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has paved the way for a thorough probe into charges of militancy funding and conspiracy made against the Hurriyat leader, officials said Tuesday.
Mirwaiz appeared before the NIA for the
second consecutive day for questioning in connection with acase related to the alleged funding of militancy groups and separatistorganisations in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Appearance of Mirwaiz before the NIA proves thegovernment’s determination to establish that Kashmiri separatist leaders willhave to be held accountable to the law of the land. It has paved the way forthorough investigation into charges of militancy funding and conspiracy againstthe Hurriyat leader,” a home ministry official said.
The questioning of Mirwaiz by the NIA has been considered asignificant development as he had been trying to evade the questioning by theprobe agency by resorting to various stratagems, he said.
“These include not responding initially to the NIA summonsat all, and later saying he was ready to be examined by the NIA in Srinagar.However, eventually he had to follow the summons and travel to New Delhi toanswer questions from the NIA. This is in line with the government’s firmstance that separatist leaders cannot claim immunity and that they will be heldaccountable for laws of the land,” the official said.
The NIA had conducted raids in February 2019 on allegationsof militancy funding and money laundering on the premises of Mirwaiz and otherHurriyat leaders like Yasin Malik and Naseem Geelani, the son of Syed Ali ShahGeelani.
The investigation against Naseem and others is proceeding asper law.
Recently, legal hurdles had been cleared for resumption oftrial in Jammu against Yasin Malik in the case of attack by JKLF militants in1990 on IAF personnel which led to the death of four persons, officials said.
“Yasin Malik had exploited the provisions in law toinordinately delay the trial. But relentless efforts by the home ministry havefinally resulted in Malik’s arrest and transfer to Jammu jail. His plea fortransfer of trial from Jammu to Srinagar has also been quashed,” anotherofficial said.