Geelani, three others under hawala probe

NEWDELHI: In an apparent preparation for a crackdown on Kashmiri separatists, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) will hold a meeting in a couple of days to discuss if a criminal case could be made out against separatist leaders over their alleged involvement in money laundering and hawala transactions.

ED director Karnal Singh has convened the meeting to look into the funding of Tehreek-eHurriyat (TeH) and All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), said official sources.

While TeH is led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Hurriyat Conference is an alliance of over two dozen organisations, which, like TeH, seek ‘independence’ from India or merger with Pakistan.

Agency sources told HT that sleuths have been asked to re-examine ongoing ED cases against separatist leaders, members allegedly belonging to the TeH or APHC, and suspected overground workers of militant groups based in Kashmir valley.

“The cases which the ED is currently probing will be discussed to underline the modus operandi employed by those already under investigation. The same cases will provide further insight into how money laundering and hawala transactions are used to facilitate activities of separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir,” an ED official told HT.

Among the cases cited by the official include one of Aslam Wani, who was arrested by Delhi Police 12 years ago.