Srinagar / Ex-J&K MLA Engineer Rashid arrested in terror funding case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested Former Independent MLA in Jammu and Kashmir Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Rashid Engineer, in connection with a terror funding case. Rashid Engineer is the first mainstream politician to have been arrested by the NIA in the case.

Rashid Engineer, who was a legislator from the Langate Assembly seat in north Kashmir, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) earlier this week about the case. ED was reportedly unsatisfied with Rashid Engineer's responses on the allegations on him and therefore, placed him under arrest.

This was the second time Rashid Engineer was called for questioning to Delhi. He was earlier questioned in 2017. 

Sources in the NIA maintain that Rashid Engineer's name came up during the questioning of businessman Zahoor Watali.

Sources also claimed that the agency had asked Rashid Engineer to submit documents pertaining to certain dubious financial transactions.

Businessman Zahoor Watali, who was allegedly receiving money from Pakistan-based terrorist Hafiz Saeed, was earlier arrested by the NIA in the same case. Moreover, Zahoor Watali was allegedly supplying money to terror groups and separatists in the Valley.

The NIA had registered the case against separatist and secessionist leaders, including unknown members of the Hurriyat Conference, who have been acting in connivance with active militants of proscribed terrorist organisations such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Dukhtaran-e-Millat, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and others.

The agency is expected to produce Rashid Engineer before the designated court to seek custody.

The ED had recently attached properties of Zahoor Watali in Kashmir and Gurugram. ED claims that accused Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali has been found to be involved in fundraising and as a financial conduit for Hurriyat Leaders.

NIA's investigation had also revealed that the All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) and other secessionists instigated the public, especially youth, to observe strikes and issue directives to the masses to hold anti-India protests, demonstrations and processions through press releases, newspapers and social media.

"The secessionists instigate masses to resort to violence, especially stone-pelting on the security forces at encounter sites and also after the dispersal of Friday prayers. This has been done wilfully to create such circumstances which will arouse disaffection among the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the Government of India," said an officer.

According to ED, during investigations under PMLA, it was revealed that a few leaders have received funds from Pakistan through conduits and also from the Pakistan High Commission directly.