Lodged in Tihar Jail, nine Hurriyat leaders to get bail soon

Only Kashmir News Desk
New Delhi, Jan 12 (Only Kashmir): The nine Hurriyat leaders and a journalist who were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in alleged terror funding case last year may get bailed out soon as the Ministry of Home Affairs is all set to grant sanction for prosecution. Sources said the sanction, mandatory under Section 45 of the UAPA, is likely to be cleared by next week, failing which the Hurriyat leaders will be eligible for bail. The leaders are lodged in Tihar Jail New Delhi.
The NIA chargesheet is likely to include the amount (Rs 2.20 crore), which was allegedly recovered during searches, and reports from experts on seized electronic equipment and call details records among others. The NIA had, in May 2017, registered a case against separatist and secessionist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir.



Pertinently, on July 24, last year, the NIA arrested seven of them, Aftab Hilali Shah alias Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar Khandey, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Nayeem Khan, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Bashir Ahmad Bhat alias Peer Saifullah — on charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against India.
The sanction request comes just months after the central government appointed former Intelligence Bureau chief, Dineshwar Sharma, as interlocutor to initiate dialogue in the Valley with all stakeholders, including the Hurriyat. The Hurriyat leadership has, so far, rejected any talks with the interlocutor. (OK)