Terror funding probe: NIA issues notices to mosque, school linked to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq

The NIA, which is probing the terror funding case involving the separatist leaders of J&K, has issued notices to Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid mosque and the Islamia School, both linked to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

Jammu: The National Investigating Agency (NIA), which is probing the terror funding case involving the separatist leaders of J&K, has issued notices to Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid mosque and the Islamia School, both linked to Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. 

According to an Indian Express report, the notices have been sent days after the NIA grilled the separatist leaders in connection with alleged terror funding from Pakistan. 

The Jamia Masjid mosque and the Islamia School are old Valley institutions of religion and education. 

Mirwaiz presides over the Friday prayers at the mosque in Srinagar and the Islamia School was founded by his family over a century ago.

The NIA notices have been sent to Mohammad Hussain Khan, who manages the accounts of the Auqaf of Jamia Masjid, and Mohammad Ibraheem Shah, the general secretary of the Anjuman Nusrat-ul-Islam that runs the institution. 

Bothy have been asked to appear before the agency.

Reacting to the NIA notices, Mirwaiz has said the move was a sign of persecution by the state. 

“Now the NIA sends notice to #IslamiaSchool & JamaMasjid, exposes level of persecution State can go to against those it can’t defeat politically!” he had tweeted.

Later, a Hurriyat statement said, “Both, the Anjuman Nusratul Islam and Auqaf Jamia Masjid, are apolitical educational and social organisations which have a great history of serving the people of the state selflessly for decades.” 

The Hurriyat said although the NIA has an office in Srinagar, it has deliberately asked the Masjid and school officials to come to Delhi to “further harass and trouble them”.