SRINAGAR: Following the third summons issued against him by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in an alleged militancy funding case, top separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has decided to travel to New Delhi to present himself before the agency for questioning. Mirwaiz, who is also the chairman of the Hurriyat M had earlier refused to travel to New Delhi citing security concerns.
However, he would be accompanied by the executive members of his Hurriyat faction comprising Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat, Bilal Gani Lone and Masroor Abbas Ansari.
“Despite repeated attempts to hold the investigation in Srinagar, the NIA has refused to conduct it in Srinagar and has said that it would take care of Mirwaiz security concern,” a Hurriyat spokesman said. “It is unfortunate that the NIA is insisting on investigation in Delhi”.
A Hurriyat statement said that all the executive members will accompany Mirwaiz to New Delhi.
The decision was taken on Sunday during a crucial meeting at the residence of Mirwaiz in Nigeen, Srinagar.
“People are deeply anguished by the harassment of Mirwaiz,”Hurriyat statement said. “We urge all the people to stay calm and peaceful”.
Earlier on April 6, the NIA issued summons to Mirwaiz to present himself before its New Delhi office on April 8 and assured him that “his security concerns will be taken care of”.
On two previous occasions, Mirwaiz had refused to attend the NIA’s New Delhi office with his counsel citing the prevailing “hostile atmosphere” in New Delhi for Mirwaiz’s inability to visit the national capital.ecurity
He had urged the NIA to question him in Srinagar itself which the agency refused to do.
Earlier, NIA had raided Mirwaiz’s residence at Nigeen and confiscated his mobiles, laptop and official documents. The NIA had also raided the house of Naseem Geelani, son of Hurriyat G chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
