India continues crackdown on Kashmiri leaders

By Zahid Rafiq</p> <p>SRINAGAR, Jammu and Kashmir (AA) – An Indian investigation agency on Tuesday carried out raids at homes of several Kashmiri leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik and Masarat Alam, a statement said.</p> <p> </p> <p>The team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) was accompanied by the Indian paramilitary and police forces.</p> <p> </p> <p>“During the searches, NIA teams recovered incriminating documents including property papers, financial transactions receipts and bank account details,” the NIA said in a statement.</p> <p>“A high tech internet communication set up was also recovered from the residence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq,” the statement added. </p> <p> </p> <p>Besides Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Alam, and Malik, NIA also raided the residences of senior leaders Shabir Shah, Ashraf Sehrai, Zafar Bhat and Nayeem Geelani — son of octogenarian Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani. </p> <p> </p> <p>The fresh spate of raids on the Kashmiri leaders began after the Feb. 14 suicide bombing attack that killed at least 40 paramilitary personnel officials.</p> <p> </p> <p>Over the last three days, Indian forces have arrested over 200 people, including Jamaat e Islami leaders. </p> <p> </p> <p>Jammu and Kashmir, a Muslim-majority Himalayan region, is held by India and Pakistan in parts and claimed by both in full. A small sliver of Kashmir is also held by China.</p> <p>Since they were partitioned in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars — in 1948, 1965 and 1971 — two of them over Kashmir.</p> <p>Also, in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troops have fought intermittently since 1984. A cease-fire came into effect in 2003.</p> <p>Some Kashmiri groups in Jammu and Kashmir have been fighting against Indian rule for independence, or for unification with neighboring Pakistan.</p> <p>According to several human rights organizations, thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the conflict in the region since 1989.