SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned a Kashmir-based journalist in connection with a case registered against woman separatist leader and Dukhtaran-e-Millat (DeM) chief, Asiya Andrabi and two of her associates.
Auqib Javaid, who is working as a reporter with local English daily Kashmir Observer, has been summoned by NIA to attend its headquarters in New Delhi on July 15.
"Whereas it appears that you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case noted below, which is now under investigation by the superintendent of Police/NIA/New Delhi under chapter XII of the code of criminal procedure, you are hereby required to attend before the undersigned at Investigation Agency, Hgrs in New Delhi on 15 July, 2018 at 12:30 hrs for the purpose of your examination relating to the case," read a summon issued to Auqib.
He has been asked to present before NIA superintendent of police Vikas Katheria, who is chief investigating officer of the case registered against Asiya and two of her associates on charges of sedition and waging war against the country.
The case against Asiya and two of her associates was registered by NIA on 27/04/2018 under sections 18, 20, 339 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967 and sections 120 B (Punishment of criminal conspiracy), 121 (Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India), 121A (Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 121), 124A (Sedition), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration) and 505 (Statements conducing public mischief) of Indian Penal Code.
On July 6, Andrabi and two of her associates were arrested by NIA from Central Jail, Srinagar and taken to New Delhi. Auqib had on January 15 this year conducted interview of Asiya and it had appeared in a local weekly magazine.
He is the second journalist from Kashmir to be summoned by NIA. Earlier, NIA had arrested a photojournalist, Kamran Yousuf from Pulwama on alleged stone pelting charges.
He was later released on bail.