SRINAGAR, Feb 27: Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday claimed that NIA did not confiscate any incriminating thing from his residence.
He made these claims a day after the National Investigating Agency NIA, raided his residence. The team also raided the residence of JKLF Chief Muhammad Yasin Malik in Maisuma and various other Hurriyat leaders.
Mirwaiz issued his statement after police disallowed the media fraternity to cover the press conference scheduled at his Nigeen residence at 2 pm on Wednesday.
“In keeping with this wave of repression and intimidation coercive raids were conducted. Around 15 to 20 people from NIA accompanied by two local policemen entered my house and office and thoroughly searched it and also the homes of my relatives who live around me. Certain items were confiscated including my laptop and phones, hard drives from my office computers, press releases on Hurriyat and Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid letterheads, records of Kashmiri students studying in Pakistan medical colleges that Hurriyat recommends,” he said.
The Hurriyat leader said that he was not given the copy of magisterial order for search but was shown a copy.
“Upon leaving I was not given the seizure memo of things seized from me which is the norm. When I asked for it, I was told to approach court for it,” he said.
“Later the NIA in press release has used word incriminating evidence which is a matter of concern. There was nothing so-called ‘incriminating’ that was taken. As I was not given a seizure memo any mischief can be done.”
“It was also said that a high tech internet communication was also recovered. This in actuality is a simple internet lease line by a private company which is commonly used in media offices and at homes for good and uninterrupted internet use. The word recovered is part of the propaganda to give an impression as if it was something hidden that has been discovered,” he claimed.
Mirwaiz said Kashmiris have a peaceful political movement and there was a “deliberate” design to link it with violence and through that route, “harass intimidate and malign us”.
He also appealed India and Pakistan not the “escalate” the prevailing situation.
