The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questioned an independent legislator from Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, in connection with a case related to the funding of terror activities in Kashmir.
Mr. Rashid, an independent MLA from the Langate Assembly seat in north Kashmir, is the first mainstream politician to have been summoned by the NIA in the case.
‘Nothing to hide'
The MLA, who walked into the NIA headquarters with a file and other documents, said he had nothing to hide. “After a trial in the media started about my name, I had approached the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to initiate a probe and find out the truth,” he told reporters before entering the NIA office.
The MLA added that he had full faith in the judicial system.
His name had cropped up during the interrogation of businessman Zahoor Watali, arrested by the NIA for allegedly supplying money to terror groups and separatists in the Valley.
“His name surfaced during questioning of some suspects. We have confronted him with the statement of the accused. The questioning may continue on Tuesday,” an NIA spokesperson said.
The NIA had registered a case on May 30 against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with militants of proscribed terrorist organisations such as the Hizbul Mujahideen
The case was registered for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala channels, for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir and for causing disruption in the Valley by way of pelting stones on the security forces, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India, the probe agency said in the FIR.
