Ready to cooperate, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq writes to NIA

Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq delivers a Friday sermon inside Jamia Masjid mosque in Srinagar on March 15, 2019. 

Citing threats, he seeks examination by the agency in Valley

Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has conveyed to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) “his willingness to cooperate” with the agency in an “illegal funding” case registered in 2017. In a letter in response to a fresh NIA summons issued by the headquarters in Delhi, the Mirwaiz’s lawyer wrote: “It is once again urged that such examination and sitting be held at Humhama office [in Budgam] of the NIA”.

“The Mirwaiz has not refused examination in the case,” the lawyer added.

The Mirwaiz’s letter has cited “several social media threats”. “The Mirwaiz has received open calls (online) for his assassination. The examination at the NIA’s office in the Valley will avoid any adverse consequences,” the letter reads.

The letter also refers to the recent move by the State government to withdraw his Z-plus security. “The Mirwaiz has serious concerns about his safety,” it added.

The NIA on February 27 searched the residence of the Mirwaiz in Srinagar and later issued two summonses to him. This evoked a spontaneous shutdown in the old city and protests from Valley-based civil society and religious groups. The Mirwaiz is also head priest of the Valley and delivers sermons every Friday at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid.

‘Will end intimidation’

National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said his party “will not allow the NIA to intimidate innocent Kashmiris”.

“In my tenure, the NIA was only used once, that too to save the life of Liyaqat, a local. It was (PDP president Mehbooba Mufti) who used NIA against hundreds of locals. We will ensure that undue intimidation of our youth is not done by the NIA. We will also put an end to the Public Safety Act,” he said at an election rally in north Kashmir.