Politics
NIA action against Aga Syed Hassan nothing but a witch hunt: Mehbooba
‘GOI must see futility of its muscular policies, stop treating everyone as criminal in Kashmir’
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday expressed disappointment over summoning of revered Shia cleric Aga Syed Hassan Al Mousvi by the NIA.
The PDP chief stated that it is high time that Government of India sees the futility of its muscular policies and not to treat every body as a criminal in Kashmir. She added that Aga Syed Hassan is a respected and revered religious leader and that it is disappointing that NIA is now busy issuing summons to the people of moral courage and mental calibre.
“The entire process now looks nothing less than a witch hunt and such steps instead of helping to find solution to the problems confronting the state, will further complicate the situation,” Mehbooba Mufti said.
Protestors in Kashmir took to the streets to protest against the recent summon by National Investigation Agency (NIA) to senior Hurriyat leader and president Anjuman-e-Sharie- Shian Aga Syed Hassan Almosvi Alsafvi directing him to appear before the agency today.
The agency had conducted a raid at the residence of Agha Syed Hassan in central Kashmir’s Budgam district in September 2017 in connection with funding case. NIA is investigating the funding case in Kashmir registered on May 30 last year.
“National Investigating Agency has registered a case vide number RC-10/2017/NIA/DLI. It appears that you are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case. You are hereby directed to appear before the Agency on November 2, 2018 at 10 am at Police Officers Mess, Humhama Srinagar in connection with the investigation of the case,” read the letter dispatched by NIA to Aga Syed Hassan.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown in being observed in this district, including Magam. All shops, offices, business establishments and petrol pumps in the twin towns remained closed.
Many people from Kashmir including resistance leaders have already been arrested by the investigation agency in connection with the case and have been lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi.
In May, 2018, after the court hearings of Kashmiris booked under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and money laundering offences by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, a Delhi High Court administrative order had transferred the case from the court of Additional Sessions Judge Justice Tarun Sehrawat to District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Poonam A Bamba.
The families of the incarcerated Hurriyat leaders feel that with the transfer, the case status is back a square one.
In September, Independent Jammu and Kashmir MLA, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, popularly known as Engineer Rasheed, was summoned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), for questioning in a case related to the “funding of terror activities” in the Valley, officials said on Thursday.
In October, United Jihad Council Chief Syed Salahuddin’s son Shahid Yousuf was sent to a seven day NIA custody by a court in New Delhi.
Yousuf was arrested by the NIA and being accused of receiving money from his father in 2011.
On November 1, judicial remand of Dukhtaran-e-Millat chairperson Asiya Andrabi, its secretary general Nahida Nasreen and its spokesperson Fahmeeda Sofi which ended was extended.
NIA on Tuesday also raided the house of a prominent businessman in Lal Bazaar area of Srinagar.
The alleged terror funding case involves Altaf Ahmad Shah, alias Altaf Fantosh, son-in-law of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali and photojournalist Kamran Yusuf along with nine other accused.
Kamran Yousuf has been given bail, along with one other accused, Javed Bhat, due to lack of evidences.
