SRINAGAR: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in New Delhi granted interim bail to parliamentarian Engineer Rashid in connection with a terror funding case.
The court, according to Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com, approved Rashid’s release till October 2, 2024, citing his need to campaign for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
Rashid, a former Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, was arrested in 2019 following allegations of involvement in terror funding, specifically linked to a case involving separatist activities and cross-border money transactions aimed at supporting insurgency in Kashmir.
The NIA accused him of channeling funds through illegal means to sustain unrest in the region. Rashid has maintained his innocence throughout, claiming the charges against him are politically motivated.
The interim bail will enable Rashid to actively participate in electioneering for the J&K Assembly elections, scheduled for later this year, which marks the first UT-level polls in the J&K since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories. The elections are seen as crucial for restoring democratic processes in the region, which has remained under central administration for over four years.
Background on the Case:
Rashid was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for his alleged role in a larger terror funding network involving Kashmiri separatist leaders and Pakistan-based operatives. The NIA has claimed that funds were used to fuel violent protests, stone-pelting incidents, and other anti-India activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Several other high-profile figures from the region were also arrested during this investigation. Rashid’s bail plea had been rejected multiple times before the court granted interim relief on the grounds of electoral participation.
Jammu and Kashmir Elections:
The upcoming elections are highly anticipated, as they represent a major political milestone following the scrapping of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties across the spectrum are gearing up to contest in this new electoral framework, with key issues such as development, governance, and regional autonomy at the forefront of political discourse. (KDC)
