The National Investigation Agency has summoned Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to New Delhi on Monday for questioning in connection with a terror financing case, Kashmir Reader reported on Saturday, quoting officials. Separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s son Naseem Geelani was also summoned for questioning.
Mirwaiz’s secretary Syed Rehman Shamas told the Hindustan Times that the summons had been served.
The summons comes two weeks after the NIA carried out searches at Farooq’s house. After the searches on February 26, the NIA had said that it recovered “high-tech internet communication setup” from Farooq’s residence. “Significantly, letter heads of different terrorist organisations as well as documents relating to recommendations for visa for admission in Pakistan Educational Institutions were found,” an agency spokesperson had said, according to the Hindustan Times.
Meanwhile, trade bodies in Srinagar have called for a two-day shutdown against the NIA summons. The organisations said the the summons issued to Farooq and Geelani is “totally undemocratic” and such “nefarious designs” to intimidate the people of Kashmir will not be tolerated. Schools, offices, shops and transport will remain closed on Sunday and Monday.
“Strongly reacting to the National Investigation Agency’s summon to the Kashmir’s chief cleric and world renowned religious scholar Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, historical traders body Beopar Mandal Mahraj Gunj, Shahre Khass Traders & Manufacturers Coordination Committee & Jamia Market Traders Federation has called for complete shutdown in and around Old City Srinagar on Sunday and Monday,” the trade bodies said in a statement, according to the Greater Kashmir.
Soon after the call for the shutdown, the local administration imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, MR Gunj and Safakadal, PTI reported.
In January, the NIA had filed a chargesheet against 12 people, including the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammad Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen founder Syed Salahuddin, in connection with the terror financing case. The accused have been accused of criminal conspiracy, attempting to wage a war against India and sedition under the Indian Penal Code and provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
People’s Democratic Party chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti condemned the summons. “Mirwaiz Farooq is not any ordinary separatist leader,” Mufti tweeted. “He is a religious and spiritual head to Kashmiri Muslims. The NIA summons to him are emblematic of the government of India’s repeated assaults on our religious identity. Jammu and Kashmir is the proverbial sacrificial lamb exploited to divert attention from real issues.”
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association condemned the NIA’s summons, Greater Kashmir reported. “Mirwaiz Umar Farooq besides being the chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) is also the Mirwaiz of Kashmir,” the association’s spokesperson said. “He leads the Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid Srinagar and is held by the Muslims of Kashmir in high esteem. By summoning him, the National Investigation Agency is actually going to subject him to humiliation and intimidation, only because he is also spearheading the Kashmiris’ ongoing struggle for right of self-determination and demands that Kashmir issue be settled peacefully.”
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