Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 30: The Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court, Srinagar, today issued a proclamation against three Non-Resident Indians for anti-national propaganda.
A police spokesman said that action comes after the accused deliberately evaded arrest and went underground to avoid legal proceedings.
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These are Turkey based former president of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Kashmiri NRI businessman, Mubeen Shah; Azizul Hassan Ashai alias Tony Ashai, a Kashmiri born US citizen and renowned architect who lives in Los Angeles and Dubai and started a firm in US over 3 decades ago, and Rifat Wani a Kashmiri born, Canadian citizen.
Shah, an NRI businessman, was arrested and booked under Public Safety Act in August 2019 ahead of abrogation of Article’s 370 and 35A. He was released in February 2023 and later he fled to Turkey.
A statement issued here by police said that the Court of the Special Judge designated under the NIA Act, Srinagar, has issued a proclamation under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, against accused persons in FIR No. 07/2020 of Police Station Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK).
“The case pertains to serious offences under Sections 153-A and 505 of the IPC and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The FIR was registered on the basis of credible intelligence inputs revealing a well-orchestrated conspiracy by unscrupulous anti-social and anti-national elements operating at the behest of secessionist forces within and outside the Kashmir valley.”
The statement said that investigations have exposed that these elements were masquerading as news portals, journalists and freelancers, while in reality weaponising social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and WhatsApp to create, upload and circulate fake, motivated, exaggerated, secessionist and out-of-context content.
“The deliberate objective of this digital misinformation campaign was to incite street violence, disrupt normal life, damage public property, disturb public order and fuel mass unrest, thereby promoting anti-national sentiments and advancing a secessionist agenda aimed at creating disaffection against the Union of India,” it read.
“During the course of investigation, involvement of accused persons was firmly established, who inclulde Mubeen Ahmad Shah, S/o Late Ali Mohammad Shah, resident of Dock Wali Colony, Jawahar Nagar, District Srinagar. Azizul Hassan Ashai alias Tony Ashai, S/o Nazir Ahmad Ashai, resident of Dock Wali Colony, Jawahar Nagar, District Srinagar and Rifat Wani, D/o Ghulam Mohammad Wani, resident of Trehgam, District Kupwara,” the statement said.
“The accused were found to be actively propagating content prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, spreading false and fabricated narratives with the clear intent of instigating disaffection against the Union of India,” it read.
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