https://www.indiatoday.in/india/sto...nia-custody-till-august-14-1579515-2019-08-10
Terror funding case: Ex-J&K MLA Rashid Engineer sent to NIA custody till August 14
The former MLA from Langate was arrested by the anti-terror agency on Friday for his alleged involvement in cross border terror funding. The agency was reportedly unsatisfied with the responses of Rashid Engineer over the allegations and was placed under arrest.
Rashid Engineer was a legislator from the Langate Assembly seat in north Kashmir. (Photo: File photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
The former MLA from Langate was arrested by the anti-terror agency on Friday for his alleged involvement in cross border terror funding. The agency was reportedly unsatisfied with the responses of Rashid Engineer over the allegations and was placed under arrest.
The mainstream leader of J&K was earlier questioned in 2017 over terror funding case.
Sources in the NIA maintain that Rashid Engineer's name came up during the questioning of businessman Zahoor Watali. Sources also claim that the agency had asked Rashid to submit documents pertaining to certain dubious financial transactions.
Businessman Zahoor Watali, who was allegedly receiving money from Pakistan based terrorist Hafiz Saeed, was earlier arrested by the NIA in the same case.
NIA had registered a case of terror funding in 2017. It said that terror outfits active in Pakistan namely Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen along with ISI and unnamed officials of PHC had provided funds to separatist leaders to foment trouble in the valley. In January 2018, the agency had filed a chargesheet. Rashid is accused of taking money from Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali.
The NIA had filed a case against separatist and secessionist leaders who have been acting in connivance with active militants of terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, LeT, and others.
The agency is expected to produce Rashid Engineer before the designated court to seek custody.
The ED had recently attached properties of Zahoor Watali in Kashmir and Gurugram. ED claims that accused Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali has been found to be involved in fundraising and as a financial conduit for Hurriyat Leaders.
NIA's investigation had also revealed that the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other secessionists instigated the public, especially youth, to observe strikes and issue directives to the masses to hold anti-India protests, demonstrations and processions through press releases, newspapers and social media.
"The secessionists instigate masses to resort to violence, especially stone-pelting on the security forces at encounter sites and also after the dispersal of Friday prayers. This has been done willfully to create such circumstances which will arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the Government of India," said an officer.
According to ED, during investigations under PMLA, it was revealed that few leaders have received funds from Pakistan through conduits and also from the Pakistan High Commission directly.
Terror funding case: Ex-J&K MLA Rashid Engineer sent to NIA custody till August 14
The former MLA from Langate was arrested by the anti-terror agency on Friday for his alleged involvement in cross border terror funding. The agency was reportedly unsatisfied with the responses of Rashid Engineer over the allegations and was placed under arrest.
Rashid Engineer was a legislator from the Langate Assembly seat in north Kashmir. (Photo: File photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- The former MLA from Langate was arrested by the anti-terror agency on Friday
- The agency was reportedly unsatisfied with the responses of Rashid Engineer over the allegations and was placed under arrest
- The mainstream leader of J&K was earlier questioned in 2017 over terror funding case
The former MLA from Langate was arrested by the anti-terror agency on Friday for his alleged involvement in cross border terror funding. The agency was reportedly unsatisfied with the responses of Rashid Engineer over the allegations and was placed under arrest.
The mainstream leader of J&K was earlier questioned in 2017 over terror funding case.
Sources in the NIA maintain that Rashid Engineer's name came up during the questioning of businessman Zahoor Watali. Sources also claim that the agency had asked Rashid to submit documents pertaining to certain dubious financial transactions.
Businessman Zahoor Watali, who was allegedly receiving money from Pakistan based terrorist Hafiz Saeed, was earlier arrested by the NIA in the same case.
NIA had registered a case of terror funding in 2017. It said that terror outfits active in Pakistan namely Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen along with ISI and unnamed officials of PHC had provided funds to separatist leaders to foment trouble in the valley. In January 2018, the agency had filed a chargesheet. Rashid is accused of taking money from Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali.
The NIA had filed a case against separatist and secessionist leaders who have been acting in connivance with active militants of terrorist organisations Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, LeT, and others.
The agency is expected to produce Rashid Engineer before the designated court to seek custody.
The ED had recently attached properties of Zahoor Watali in Kashmir and Gurugram. ED claims that accused Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali has been found to be involved in fundraising and as a financial conduit for Hurriyat Leaders.
NIA's investigation had also revealed that the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other secessionists instigated the public, especially youth, to observe strikes and issue directives to the masses to hold anti-India protests, demonstrations and processions through press releases, newspapers and social media.
"The secessionists instigate masses to resort to violence, especially stone-pelting on the security forces at encounter sites and also after the dispersal of Friday prayers. This has been done willfully to create such circumstances which will arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the Government of India," said an officer.
According to ED, during investigations under PMLA, it was revealed that few leaders have received funds from Pakistan through conduits and also from the Pakistan High Commission directly.
