NIA summons separatists in Pak funding probe

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency has ordered separatist leaders Farooq Ahmad Dar and Javed Ahmed Baba to appear before its court in New Delhi after its initial probe into allegations of Pakistan funding.

Dar alias ‘Bitta Karate' and Baba alias ‘Gazi' of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat will reach the national capital on Monday for further questioning.

They have been asked to carry bank and property documents by the NIA.

Both of them were questioned for four consecutive days earlier this month as part of the ongoing investigation.

The summons came after the probe agency named Pakistan-based LeT chief Hafeez Saeed, Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Jammu and National Front Chairman Nayeem Khan in a Preliminary Enquiry (PE), PTI reported.

Khan has been suspended from the Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference.

The probe was launched after Khan was allegedly shown in a sting operation confessing to receiving money from Pakistan-based terror groups through hawala channels. The sting was aired by a news channel.

Both Dar and Baba will be questioned again in Delhi for their alleged role in collecting and transferring funds for terror and fuelling unrest in the Valley.

The agency has also collected details of 13 accused charge-sheeted in the Valley for causing damage to public property as part of a “larger conspiracy”.

The NIA's Preliminary Enquiry alleged that the separatists were receiving funds from the LeT chief to carry out subversive activities in the Kashmir Valley, including pelting on security forces and damaging public property.