Kashmiri Separatist Used Money from Pakistan to Pay Stone-Pelters: NIA Told to Court

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 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today told a Delhi court that it has firm evidence that seven Hurriyat Conference separatists arrested yesterday used money got from Pakistan through hawala to pay people to burn schools and throw stones during protests in the Kashmir Valley since last year, fueling unrest.

 The elite agency, which investigates terror cases, said these separatists - all key members of the Hurriyat and one of who is the son-in-law of Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani - were in touch with stone-pelters, about 60 of who have been identified.

 "Evidence collected so far clearly proves a financial trail as well as a direct link between terror activities and funding from Pakistan-based terror groups," NIA spokesman Alok Mittal had said on Monday.

 The NIA has said it has scrutinised a number of documents seized during raids last month and will now confront the separatists with the evidence, which includes the transfer of money into their bank accounts and through hawala transfers.

 India has, for years, accused Pakistan of funding, arming and training Kashmiri separatists but this is the first time that so many senior members of the Hurriyat Conference have been arrested on charges of receiving money from Pakistan.

 The NIA first information report names as an accused Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed, who heads the Jamaat-ud-Dawah, a front for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and also the Hurriyat Conference and terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.

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