SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani’s son for questioning, prompting harsh reactions from Hurriyat Conference which termed it a “psychological crackdown” by India.
The separatist body, in a statement said, Geelani’s elder son Dr Naeem Geelani has been issued a notice by the NIA to report to their interrogation centre in Shivpora for questioning.
A team of NIA investigators has been camping in Srinagar for the past four days to probe into what reports said was some “suspicious transactions” across bank accounts in the Valley over the last few months.
The NIA investigators want to know whether the trail of funds was in any way linked to militancy or anti-national activities during the current unrest.
Fifty-two-year-old Naeem, who is a doctor, spent about 12 years in Pakistan before returning home in 2010. After his return, there was speculation that senior Geelani would nominate Naeem as his political successor, which was later denied by the Hurriyat Conference.
The Hurriyat, in its statement on Monday, said Geelani and his family were being “maligned in a well-knit conspiracy by Indian imperialist agencies”.
{{/usCountry}}The Hurriyat, in its statement on Monday, said Geelani and his family were being “maligned in a well-knit conspiracy by Indian imperialist agencies”.
{{/usCountry}}The statement said the Indian government was “framing pro-freedom leaders to subdue the current uprising”.
“After miserably failing to curb the current mass uprising by all the military might, Indian government is frustrated to the extent that they frame and arrest the pro-freedom leaders and activists,” the separatist outfit said.
The Hurriyat warned that these “inhuman, immoral and undemocratic tactics” will not deter the “pro-freedom people from advocating their just cause”.