The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday arrested seven pro-freedom leaders on charges of “terror funding” including stone pelting. NIA spokesperson Alok Mittal told Kashmir Reader that the accused were arrested in Delhi and Srinagar and they will be produced before the special judge of NIA at Patiala House in New Delhi on Tuesday.

“NIA arrested Farooq Ahmad Dar from Delhi and other six were arrested in Srinagar,” Mittal said.

Dar was called to Delhi for questioning, where he was arrested, Mittal said.

Mittal said all the six arrested in Srinagar would be flown to Delhi to produce them before the special judge.

He said all the seven have been arrested in connection with the NIA case No. RC 10/2017/NIA/DLI (J&K terror funding case) under Sections 120B, 121, 121A of IPC and Sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 38, 39, 40 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

“The case was registered on May 30, 2017, against the separatist and secessionist leaders including the members/cadres of the Hurriyat Conference who have been involved with the active militants of banned organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Toiba and other associations and gangs for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means, including hawala for funding separatist and militant activities in the Valley,” said Mittal.

He said the activities included stone-pelting on the security forces, burning of schools, damaging public property and waging war against India.

The leaders of the Hurriyat have appealed to people to “condemn and protest the revengeful arbitrary and illegal” arrests of Hurriyat leaders Altaf Ahmed Shah, Shahidul Islam, Ayaz Akbar, Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Peer Saifullah by NIA in Srinagar today. Pertinently, apart from the said leaders NIA also arrested Nayeem Ahmad Khan and Bita Karate. (kashmirreader.com)

The District Magistrate has ordered restrictions under section 144 of the CrPC in the old city area including Rainawari, Khanyar, Nowhatta, MR Gunj and Safa Kadal. Public transport, shops, other businesses and educational institutions remained closed in Srinagar and other district headquarters in the valley. Private transport and some three-wheelers were, however, seen moving in uptown and the city outskirts. Contingents of police and the Central Reserve Police Force in riot gear disallowed vehicular and pedestrian movement in all the areas where restrictions were imposed. The protest shut down was called after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested several separatist leaders in the terror funding case on Monday. (firstpost.com)