New Delhi: Continuing its probe into the alleged funding of separatist movement in
Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi police has quizzed Hurriyat Conference's former Delhi-based
spokesman Abdul Majid Bandey.
Official sources said Bandey was grilled for the entire day on February 28 about the
day-to-day running of the amalgam's Delhi office, which has since been shut down by
the conglomerate itself.
The sources said the former spokesman was asked about the source of income and
whether some earlier instances indicated that the Hurriyat leaders had been visiting
the Pakistan High Commission to receive money.
When contacted Bandey, who is in New Delhi in connection with the treatment of his
daughter, acknowledged that he had been questioned by the Delhi police, but refused
to divulge anything further.
Bandey, who is now the general secretary of the People's Conference (led by Sajjad
Lone), was the spokesman of the Hurriyat in Delhi till September last year.
The sources said Bandey was also asked to explain the funds received by the Delhi-
based office from Srinagar and whether any account was being maintained of the money
spent on the visits of the Hurriyat leaders to the national capital since the
opening of the office here.
Delhi Police has stopped any transactions from four bank accounts belonging to the
Hurriyat.
The statement of Anjum Zamrooda Habib, chief of Muslim Khawateen Markaz, and main
accused in alleged funding of separatist movement in Jammu and Kashmir, has been
recorded before a deputy commissioner of police.
As per the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), she would have to confirm the
statement before a judge, after which it would be taken as "confessional" statement.
Habib and Shabir Dar, Delhi-based spokesman of Hurriyat, arrested by Delhi police on
February 6 for accepting money from Pakistan High Commission, have alleged that it
was meant for Hurriyat chief Abdul Ghani Bhat for funding separatist movement.
The police was also studying the data of 27 floppies, 23 audio cassettes, 27 video
cassettes and 26 MP8 cassettes seized from the office of the Hurriyat Conference
during a raid in February.
The police, on a tip-off from the intelligence agencies had arrested Habib for
receiving Rs 3.07 lakh allegedly from expelled Pakistan Charge d' Affaires Jaleel
Abbas Jilani.
The expelled diplomat has also been named in the first information report (FIR)
registered in this connection.
Controversies over bunglings in funds has been dogging the Hurriyat ever since its
inception with senior Jamaat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani facing criticism from
various militant groups for allegedly swindling crores of Rupees meant for victims
of Chrar-e-Sharief in late 1990s.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yaseen Malik was arrested last
year on similar charges, which was followed by arrest of Geelani for allegedly
supplying money to militant groups.
PTI
