Mirwaiz ready for NIA questioning, but in Srinagar

Srinagar: Senior separatist leader Mirwaiz Umer Farooq is ready to cooperate with the National Investigation Agency but wants that he be questioned by the agency here, a Hurriyat spokesman said.

The NIA had issued its second notice to Mirwaiz to appear before the agency for questioning in Delhi on Monday.

A spokesman of the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat conference said that the Mirwaiz had replied to another notice served to him by the NIA asking him to be present before the agency, and through his counsel, to the notice dated March 14, and received on March 15, asking him to come to New Delhi.

“Mirwaiz has reiterated that he is willing to cooperate in the matter, but has asked for the venue for examination to be shifted from Delhi to Srinagar as the concerns and apprehensions regarding travel to Delhi, expressed by him through his counsel in the earlier response dated March 10 continue to remain so.”

In his reply, counsel for the Mirwaiz has said that on several occasions earlier, many persons have been examined by the agency at Humhama Budgam while conducting the investigation and the Mirwaiz sees no reason why he cannot be examined in a similar manner.

IANS