NIA searches house of Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin’s son, seizes phones, laptop
The anti-terrorism investigation agency officers seized five mobile phones, two hard discs, a laptop and “incriminating documents” from the house , according to sources
india Updated: Oct 26, 2017 15:54 IST
Hindustan Times, Srinagar
The national investigation agency (NIA) on Thursday searched the house of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s son Shahid Yusuf, who was arrested two days ago in a terror-funding case, sources said.
The anti-terrorism investigation agency officers seized five mobile phones, two hard discs, a laptop and “incriminating documents” from the house in the Soibugh village in south Kashmir’s Budgam district, sources said.
The NIA has raided and arrested several separatists leaders over the last few months in an investigation to ascertain if funds from Pakistan fuelled last year’s unrest in the Valley.
Yousuf, however, was arrested in a 2011 case that the Delhi Police registered against him under the unlawful activities (prevention) act.
He was arrested in Delhi on Tuesday in Delhi where the NIA had called him for questioning. The arrest came a day after the Centre announced an interlocutor to hold talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.
His father not only founded the Hizbul Mujahideen, a militant outfit that is active in Kashmir but is also the chief of the United Jihad Council, a Pakistan occupied Kashmir-based umbrella organisation of anti-India outfits operating in Kashmir.
Yusuf, the NIA said, received and collected funds through international wire money transfer from a Saudi Arabia-based Hizbul member. He had admitted to receiving funds, the agency said.
Yusuf is the third son of Salahuddin, who had left the Valley about 25 years back and was declared a proclaimed offender in 2014. Salahuddin’s five sons and two daughters continue to live in Kashmir.
One of the most active outfits in Kashmir, the Hizbul has suffered several setbacks in the last few months, with the security forces stepping up the offensive against its leadership.
The Valley was plunged into a cycle of violent street protests after Hizbul militant Burhan Wani was killed in July 2016. The violence left around 100 people, most of them civilians, dead.
