No one will sell their ideals here: Farooq Abdullah to Centre on NIA raids

Abdullah also called for the release of arrested separatist leaders.

Amid ongoing probe in the Hurriyat terror funding case and multiple raids behind conducted at the residents of separatist leaders, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Friday, in a veiled remark, asked if the raids were being conducted to threaten the separatists.

The NIA has been probing several separatist leaders in the terror funding case. The NIA on Wednesday conducted raids at 11 locations in Srinagar and 5 in Delhi in connection with the Hurriyat Terror Funding case.

"I will consider these raids (valid) only if something substantial comes out. If it is just to scare them, then... I would like to tell the Government of India that no matter how much atrocities they commit, people here (in Kashmir) will not sell their ideals," Abdullah told reporters.

Abdullah further said, "Those people (separatists) must be released so that they can tell Home Minister what they have to tell."

The National Investigation Agency which conducted raids in Delhi and Srinagar has recovered Rs 2.20 crore cash in connection with the Hurriyat terror funding case. The places searched include houses and business establishments of those (traders/hawala operators etc.) who are suspected of channelising funds to fuel secessionist and anti-India activities. During the searches, cash amounting to approximately Rs. 2.20 Crores had been recovered besides incriminating documents pertaining to financial transactions.

On Wednesday a photo journalist from Kashmir was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on the charge that he was involved in incidents of stone pelting. Kamran Yousuf, the journalist was arrested along with Javed Bhat from Kulgam by the NIA.

Terming them as alleged ring leaders, the NIA said that the duo also facilitated stone pelting in the Valley. The arrests come in the midst of an NIA probe in the Hurriyat terror funding case.

NIA officials say that Yousuf was not just mobilising the stone pelters, but also clicking pictures and circulating them among the local and national newspapers. They also circulated the pictures widely on the social media and chat groups, the NIA also said.

The NIA on Thursday raided the house of separatist leader Shabbir Shah's aide Zameer Thakur in connection with the terror funding case. Hurriyat leader Aga Hassan's residence in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam was also raided.

OneIndia News