Terrorist financing: NIA questions Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons
As part of the ongoing crackdown on terrorist financing, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned Nayeem and Nasim, Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's sons. The probe reportedly focused on Geelani's role in financing the unrest in Kashmir. Official sources further indicate that the probe also looked into Geelani's connections with terrorist organizations including Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Let's know more on the investigation.
NIA's crackdown on terrorist financing: What has happened so far?
The NIA had been in the process of investigating external financial aid to Kashmiri separatism and had been questioning separatist leaders. It recently filed an FIR against the conspiracy to fund separatist movements in the Kashmir valley. Among other things, the FIR alleged that funds coming from Pakistan fuelled activities including stone-pelting against security forces and torching of public property.
Who is in the NIA radar?
Along with ongoing investigations against several suspects in states including Haryana and Delhi, NIA has been probing Kashmiri separatist leaders and their aides. Geelani's close aide Devinder Singh Behal, his son-in-law and Gazi Javed Baba (Tehreek-e-Hurriyat) and Farooq Ahmed Dar (JKLF) are also being investigated.
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 do we know about Geelani's links to separatists?
According to an official source, NIA has already gathered enough evidence linking Geelani to subversive activities including stone pelting. Testimonies from those arrested previously further indicate that funding of those including stone-pelters was handled from the Geelani residence. Investigators also suspect that Geelani may have given orders to conduct protests and burn public buildings The official added that Geelani himself may be questioned soon.
