Terror-funding: NIA detains Geelani's son-in-law, two other Hurriyat leaders
The National Investigation Agency has detained Altaf Ahmed Shah, son-in-law of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, over funding of terror activities in the Valley. Two other Hurriyat(G) leaders, Ayaz Akbar and Mehraj ud Din Kalwal, were also detained. The NIA had launched a probe against Geelani and other hardline leaders for allegedly receiving funds from Pakistan-based terror outfits.
How does Pakistani funding work?
According to officials, funding from Pakistan to Kashmir comes via other places, including the gulf countries. Separatist leaders then distribute the money among youths for creating unrest: stone-pelting, damaging government buildings and more. Stone-pelters are allegedly paid Rs. 500-1,000 everyday for disrupting peace. Separatists are suspected to have spent hundreds of crores in just the last year to keep the unrest going.
What is Shah's role in Geelani's Tehreek-e-Hurriyat?
Shah is believed to be influential in the policies of the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat founded by Geelani. A few days earlier, he was questioned by the NIA about his properties and the source of their funding, including the funding of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat.
NIA has crossed all limits, says Geelani
Earlier this month, the NIA had raided 26 premises owned by separatist leaders in J&K, Delhi and Haryana in connection with its probe on terror funding. Geelani and other leaders had condemned the raids as an attempt by the Centre to discredit separatist leaders and their movement. After Shah's arrest, Geelani said NIA had "crossed all limits" with such "arbitrary measures".
