NIA summons Mirwaiz to Delhi for questioning, parts of downtown Srinagar shut

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Molvi Umar Farooq to New Delhi on Monday in a terror funding case.
Meanwhile, as the news spread in downtown Srinagar, shopkeepers downed shutters in Jamia Market, Nowhatta and adjoining areas against the move by the investigation agency.
According to the notice served to Mirwiaz, he has been asked to appear before NIA at its headquarters in New Delhi on Monday.
The notice comes less than two weeks after the NIA on February 26 conducted searches at the premises of separatist leaders, including the Mirwaiz, in his alleged connection with terror funding case.
“Whereas, it appears that you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case noted below, which is now under investigation by the NIA, New Delhi, you are hereby required to report before the undersigned at National Investigation Agency, Ministry of Home Affairs, Opposite CGO complex Lodhi Road, new Delhi on 11-02-2019 at 1030 hrs for the purpose of your examination relating to the case,” the notice read.
The state government recently withdrew security cover to Mirwaiz following directions by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to review security and other facilities of all separatist leaders after the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) fidayeen attack on CRPF convoy at Awantipora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway that left 40 CRPF men dead.
The sleuths of NIA also conducted searches at the residence of JKLF chief Mohammad Yasin Malik at Maisuma near here on February 26.
The NIA and Enforcement Directorate have already arrested about two dozen separatists and businessmen and lodged them in Delhi’s Tihar jail for their involvement in alleged terror funding.
They included Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, spokespersons of both the factions of the HC Aiyaz Akbar, Advocate Shahidul Islam, Naeem Khan and sons of Pakistan-administrated Kashmir (PaK) based Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Syed Salahuuddin and son and son-in-law of Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Security forces during raids after Pulwama attack have arrested about 200 leaders of HC, Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and Jamait-ul-Ahalhadees (JuA) from different parts of the valley.