Terror funding case: NIA chargesheets Hafiz Saeed, Hizb chief Syed Salahuddin
The NIA chargesheet also names several J&K separatist leaders and businessmen in a case registered after Kashmir was rocked by violent protests following Hizbul poster boy Burhan Wani’s killing in 2016
india Updated: Jan 18, 2018 13:56 IST
The NIA on Thursday filed a chargesheet against 12 people, including Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafeez Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen head Syed Salahuddin, in a case related toalleged funding of terror and secessionist activities in the Kashmir valley.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) chargesheet, running into 1,279 pages and filed before a designated court in New Delhi, accuses the two of fomenting trouble and sending funds to the valley through non-banking channels.
Among those chargesheeted are separatist leaders, a businessman and alleged stone pelters.Read full list here.
The accused have been charged with conspiring to wage a war against the government by carrying out terrorist and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA had registered an FIR in the case in May last year.
“During the course of investigation, the NIA teams conducted searches at over 60 locations spread across Jammu & Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi and seized over 950 incriminating documents and over 600 electronic devices. During the investigation, over 300 witnesses were examined,” the agency said in a statement.
The judicial custody of 10 people arrested in connection with the case ended Thursday.
Under the anti-terror law -- the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act -- the prosecuting agency has to file a chargesheet within 6 months, failing which the accused is eligible for bail.
The agency said scrutiny and analysis of the documents and digital devices established that the accused Hurriyat leaders and stone-pelters were orchestrating violence and other secessionist activities in the Valley as a part of their well-planned criminal conspiracy hatched with the active support, connivance and funding from terrorist organisations based in Pakistan and its agencies.
“The secessionist and separatist leaders belonging to the All Parties Hurriyat Conference have established a network of cadres throughout Kashmir Valley who incite the youth to attack all symbols of Indian sovereignty — especially Indian security forces who are deployed there for the maintenance of law and order — under the overall guidance and instructions from Hafiz Syed, Syed Salahuddin and their Pakistani handlers,” the agency charged