Indian Investigators Arrest Kashmiri Separatists Over Terror Funding

New Delhi (Sputnik) — In the major crackdown against terror funding in the Indian side of Kashmir, India's premier investigating agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has arrested seven leaders. Among the arrested are Altaf Shah, the son-in-law of All-Party Hurriyat Conference chief Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Other arrested persons include Ayaz Akbar, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Shadid-ul-Islam, Peer Saifullah, Bitta Karate and Nayeem Khan.

The NIA is investigating if funds from Pakistan were used to fuel unrest in the Indian side of Kashmir.

According to the agency, these separatist and secessionist leaders have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organizations such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtarane Millat, Lashkar-e-Toiba and other terrorist organizations for raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, and causing disruption in the Kashmir Valley by way of pelting stones at security forces, burning schools and damaging public property.

Meanwhile, the Joint Resistance Leadership of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik have given a call for a complete strike in Kashmir tomorrow in protest against the arrests.