Separatists' arrests just administrative measure, won't solve real problem: Mehbooba

Days after the National Investigative Agency (NIA) arrested seven separatists from the Valley in connection with a terror-funding case, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said the arrests were just an administrative measure and will not solve the real problem.

"The NIA arrests do not solve any problems; they are just an administrative measure. An administrative measure can not help us to resolve the situation and cannot address the real problem of Kashmir. It is important to replace it with a better idea," she said at an event organised by the Bureau of Research on Industry and Economic Fundamentals titled 'Understanding Kashmir' here.

She also warned that any change in Article 35(A) of the Constitution, which gives a special state provision to Jammu and Kashmir and is being debated in the Supreme Court would not be in favour of the people living in the Valley and would invite repercussions.

Article 35(A) of the Constitution empowers the state legislature to define permanent residents and accord special rights and privileges to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Any tempering with Article 35(A) won't be acceptable. I won't hesitate in saying that nobody will even carry the corpse of the National Flag in Kashmir, if it happens. Let me make it very clear," she said.

On Monday, the NIA arrested seven separatists over money laundering charges, for funding terror in the Kashmir Valley.

Later, on Wednesday, another separatist leader and Democratic Freedom Party (DFP) chairman Shabir Shah was also arrested.

Altaf Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah, Mehraj Kalwal, Shahid-ul-Islam, Naeem Khan and Bitta Karate have been sent to 10-day NIA custody.

Shabir Shah was produced in the Patiala House Court and was sent to a seven-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody.

The NIA visited Srinagar in May to probe the alleged funding by Pakistan for illegal activities in Kashmir, and questioned several separatist leaders on the issue of raising, collecting and transferring funds via the Hawala route and other channels to fund terror activities in Kashmir.

The NIA is said to be probing all aspects of funding to separatist leaders and how they reportedly used these funds to fuel unrest in the Kashmir Valley.