Six Hurriyat leaders arrested on money laundering charges brought to Delhi

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) moved six of the seven Hurriyat leaders arrested on money laundering charges from Srinagar to Delhi late on Monday.

The NIA first transported Altaf Fantoos and Aiyas Akbar after registering a case against them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Thereafter, the remaining four -- Naeem Khan, T. Saifullah, Meraz Kalwal and Saheed-ul-Islam were brought to the national capital for further interrogation and to appear before a court.

The seventh, Bitta Karate, was arrested in New Delhi.

NIA Inspector General Alok Mittal told ANI, "We had registered a terror-funding case related to Jammu and Kashmir on May 30 this year under various sections of the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Thereafter, we conducted wide ranging searches in several cities and collected incriminating documentary and electronic evidence. We have also seized a large amount of cash. Based on the evidence we have collected and subsequent examinations of the persons today, we have arrested seven persons --six from Srinagar and one from Delhi."

At that time, Mittal said, "All six arrested in Srinagar will be brought to Delhi today and all seven will be produced in court tomorrow in Delhi," he added.

He further said that the evidences which have been collected so far clearly prove the financial trail and the direct link between terror activities and its (money laundered) funding.

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.

NIA sleuths specifically questioned separatist leaders Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate and Gazi Javed Baba at that time.

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.