Srinagar: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a third notice to Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, asking him to appear at its New Delhi headquarters on April 18 in connection with a case registered at the behest of government of India. Mirwaiz has skipped two summons earlier.
On March 18, Mirwaiz sent a reply to NIA’s second notice, expressing inability to appear before the probe agency at New Delhi by citing “hostility and a threat to his life”.
Through his counsel, Mirwaiz had reiterated that he was willing to cooperate in the matter but asked for the venue for examination to be shifted from New Delhi to Srinagar.
Mirwaiz had reiterated concerns and apprehensions regarding travel to New Delhi, stating that under the prevailing conditions of “hostility and threat to the Mirwaiz,” it becomes unwise for him to travel to New Delhi.
“Under the prevailing conditions of hostility and threat to the Mirwaiz, it becomes unwise for him to travel to New Delhi,” Mirwaiz’s lawyer Aijaz Ahmad Dar had said in a written reply to the NIA.
The lawyer had said, “Mirwaiz was willing to cooperate with the NIA in Srinagar…It appears that the genuine concerns which has been mentioned in the earlier response dated 10-3-2019 have not been considered objectively,” advocate Dar had said in response to second notice by NIA to Mirwaiz on March 14, adding, “I reiterate that my client is not refusing to be examined in connection with the subject matter of some investigation,” he said, adding, “My client (Mirwaiz) has serious concerns about his safety. The Security (Z-plus category) which was provided earlier to your knowledge was withdrawn unilaterally for reasons too well known.”
He had said unsubstantiated attempts are being made to link the Mirwaiz in false and fabricated ‘terror funding’ cases. “It’s aimed at silencing him through intimidation and harassment. He is being victimised for his political views to see a resolution of the Kashmir issue through peaceful means,” he had said.
Earlier, the NIA summons had sparked streets protests and a shutdown in Srinagar. J&K’s two main regional parties, Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference, also accused the Centre of “arm twisting of the religious figure” and “attacking the religious identity of the State by summoning the Mirwaiz”.
Mirwaiz’s counsel said on several occasions earlier, many persons have been examined by the Agency at Humhama Budgam while conducting investigation. “There is no reason why his client cannot be examined in similar manner.”
