NIA questions Mirwaiz Umer Farooq in terror funding case

NEW DELHI: National Investigation Agency on Monday questioned senior Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq here in Delhi, about the evidence gathered so far against him in the J&K terror funding case including the high-tech internet communication set-up found at his Srinagar residence.

During searches in February on the premises of separatist leaders including Mirwaiz, NIA officials had found incriminating documents, including property papers, financial transactions receipts and bank account details.

Electronic devices including laptops, e-tabs, mobile phones, pen drives, communication system and DVRs.

“We also found letter heads of various terrorist organisations as well as documents relating to recommendations for visa for admission in educational institutions in Pakistan. A high-tech internet communication set up was also recovered from the from the residence of Mirwaiz,” said an NIA officer.

NIA sources said they quizzed Mirwaiz about the purpose of having the high-tech communication system installed at his house as well as other recoveries made from him. He was confronted with evidence gathered so far linking him to terror funding and stone-throwing protests involving Kashmiri separatists.

Mirwaiz will be questioned again on Tuesday.

The moderate Hurriyat leader had turned up at NIA headquarters on Monday after avoiding two summons. He had voiced apprehensions about his security, following which NIA and Centre had arranged for his security for arrival in Delhi.

The NIA probe seeks to identify the chain of players behind the financing of terrorist activities, pelting of stones on security forces, burning down of schools and damaging of government establishments.

The case names Hafiz Saeed, the Pakistan-based chief of Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD), the front for the banned Lashker-e-Taiba, as an accused. It also names organisations such as the Hurriyat Conference factions led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and the Mirwaiz, the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Dukhtaran-e-Millat.