Kashmir’s ‘Nelson Mandela’ arrested for terror funding -Governance Now

Kashmir’s ‘Nelson Mandela’ arrested for terror funding

Shabbir Shah to be interrogated in Delhi for sources of funds for terror in Kashmir

Aasha Khosa | July 26, 2017 | New Delhi

#Nayeem Ahmad Khan #Geelani #Hurriyat #Shabbir Shah #terror funding #Kashmir #NIA #AS Dulat

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has arrested Shabbir Shah, who was once called the Nelson Mandela of Kashmir for his advocacy of peace, for his alleged involvement in money laundering to support terrorism in Kashmir.

Shah, whose J&K democratic freedom party is a part of the pro-Pakistan All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), was arrested in Srinagar on Wednesday morning and flown to Delhi for custodial interrogation.

The NIA had already arrested seven others, including Hurriyat leaders, in connection with the case of terror funding.

Shah, 64, was once the most jailed separatist in Kashmir and also the tallest leader of the separatist movement. According to former RAW chief A S Dullat, the union government had wanted to enter into talks with him for ending terrorism in Kashmir.

In his book “Kashmir: The Vajpayee Years”, Dulat claimed Shah was released from the jail with an understanding that he would give a call to end violence and use of the gun and it would then trigger the talks between the government and the separatists.

Read: Delhi, Kashmir and the shawl-walla

However, Shah demurred at the last minute and didn’t live up to promises he had allegedly made while in jail. He married a doctor and settled down in life while his political aura gradually diminished over a period of time.

It may be pertinent to mention that the current phase of NIA investigations into the terror funding in Kashmir was triggered by the admission of Shah’s one-time close friend Nayeem Ahmad Khan. The two had parted ways years ago and Khan had got closer to Hurriyat (G) leader Sayed Ali Shah Geelani.

Comments

Other News

Revisiting anti-Sikh violence of 1984

Remembering the Past: Critical Perspectives on the Anti-Sikh Violence of 1984 Edited by Ishmeet Kaur Chaudhry, with a Foreword by Amritjit Singh Orient BlackSwan, pages, Rs 1,285

`Vande Mataram showed India the way to self-reliance`

`Vande Mataram` showed India the way to self-reliance. "It became a mantra to challenge external companies, which also expanded the mantra of independence towards the mantra of Swadeshi,” prime minister Narendra Modi said in the Lok Sabha on Monday, as he initiated a debate on the occasion of th

“All success is 99 percent luck, and 1 percent bloody good luck”

From Topaz in the 1970s to Supermax through 2023, RK Malhotra was the man behind one of India`s top razor blade brands. His unusual story is now told in ‘Ace of Blades: The Life Story of the Blade King of India’ (Jaico Publishing House). This is an account of a man whose obsession with the

India-Russia ties: Anchored in trust, deep mutual understanding

Unlike the US and the West, Russia does not have a relationship with India merely based on transactional exchange of goods or commodities. Instead, it is based on deep mutual understanding and trust, which have helped the two countries in navigating ups and downs of international geopolitics for decades.

Centre accelerates railway upgrades across Maharashtra

The union government has reiterated its commitment to the development and expansion of the railway network in Maharashtra. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress achieved in recent years through enhanced budgetary suppo

On Ukraine, Modi tells Putin India stands for peace

India stands for peace from the beginning when it comes to Ukraine, prime minister Narendra Modi said here Friday, as he welcomed Russian president Vladimir Putin. "We welcome all efforts being made for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of this subject. India has always been ready to contribute