NIA searches house of Hizb chief’s son

THE ANTITERRORISM INVESTIGATION AGENCY OFFICERS SEIZED FIVE MOBILE PHONES, TWO HARD DISCS, A LAPTOP AND ‘INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS’

The national investigation agency (NIA) on Thursday searched the house of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s son Shahid Yusuf, who was arrested two days ago in a terror-funding case, sources said.

The anti-terrorism investigation agency officers seized five mobile phones, two hard discs, a laptop and “incriminating documents” from the house in theSoibugh village in south Kashmir’s Budgam district, sources said.

The NIA has raided and arrested several separatists leaders over the last few months in an investigation to ascertain if funds from Pakistan fuelled last year’s unrest in the Valley.

Yousuf, however, was arrested in a 2011 case that the Delhi Police registered against him under the unlawful activities (prevention) act.

He was arrested in Delhi on Tuesday in Delhi where the NIA had called him for questioning. The arrest came a day after the Centre announced an interlocutor to hold talks with all stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir.

Yusuf, the NIA said, received and collected funds through international wire money transfer from a Saudi Arabiabased Hizbul member. He had admitted to receiving funds, the agency said.