Resistance today staged a protest demonstration here, denouncing and condemning the raids and detention of several separatist leaders by the National Investigation Agency.
The protest was organised jointly by both factions of the Hurriyat Conference, headed by Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front headed by Yasin Malik. Scores of second-rung Hurriyat leaders and activists participated in the stir.
The NIA, which is probing the funding of secessionist activities in Kashmir, has already arrested several separatist leaders and also carried out raids at several locations across Kashmir to gather evidence.
Holding placards and raising slogans, the protesters marched through the Maisuma locality of Srinagar city, and later on dispersed peacefully. The protesters denounced the detention of separatist leaders by the NIA and the raids across Kashmir. “Putting common people in jails and intimidation by the NIA amounts to the trampling of democratic and human rights,” they said.
After a series of raids by the NIA for more than a month, the probe agency has so far arrested seven separatists, including Altaf Ahmed Shah, alias Fantoosh, the son-in-law of Syed Ali Geelani, Peer Saifullah, political secretary of Geelani, Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of Geelani-led Hurriyat Conference, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Srinagar district president of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat led by Geelani and Shahid-ul-Islam, media secretary of Mirwaiz.
The other leaders arrested by the NIA include National Front chairman and suspended provincial president of hardline Hurriyat Nayeem Ahmad Khan and former militant commander and Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (R) leader Farooq Ahmad Dar, alias Bitta Karate.
In August, the NIA had arrested prominent Srinagar businessman Zahoor Watali from New Delhi. Watali is suspected of acting as a conduit for illegally remitting funds to secessionists.
While Watali is in police custody, Altaf Funtoosh, Peer Saifullah, Nayeem Khan and Mehrajuddin Kalwal are in judicial custody.
Resistance Group hold protest against NIA Raids, Arrests
