NIA probes Kashmiri separatist Geelani's son-in-law, 2 others over terror funds

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained Altaf Ahemed Shah, son-in-law of Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani and two others in connection with alleged funding received by the separatists for carrying out subversive activities in the Valley.

Besides Altaf Ahemed Shah, also known as Altaf Fantoosh, the agency retained 2 other Hurriyat leaders - Ayaz Akbar and Mehraj ud Din Kalwal, ANI reported.

A report in The Times of India stated the NIA had questioned Altaf Shah on 12 June over his movable and other properties, including houses in the Valley as well as in Jammu, and the source for their funding.

Shah is perceived to be influential in the policies of the Tehrek-e-Hurriyat.

Besides raiding the houses of these leaders and arresting them, police also reportedly raided the residence of another Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Pir Saifullah. Saifullah, however, however, was not at home.

The NIA team, which arrived in Srinagar on Thursday last week,  has collected the memory devices and cameras used in the sting operation to verify the contents. These were also subjected to forensic tests.

NIA on 3 June had raided 14 places in Srinagar, including the houses of three separatist leaders - Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader Ghazi Javed Baba, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front leader Farooq Ahmed Dar aka Bitta Karate, and suspended Hurriyat leader Nayeem Khan - and their aides.

Nayeem Khan had allegedly confessed to receiving money to incite trouble in Kashmir. The video clipping was released by India TodayTV channel on 16 May.

The agency is probing all aspects of alleged terror funding of separatist leaders by Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan sources, and use of this money in fuelling unrest in the Valley after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a gunfight on 8 July 2016.