The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested the second son of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin from his residence at Rambagh in Srinagar on Wednesday night for for allegedly receiving secret funds.
According to sources, Syed Shakeel Ahmed was arrested during a raid at his house. Ahmed works as a laboratory technician at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar.
Syed Shahid Yousuf, another son of Salahuddin, is already in the custody of the NIA on charges of receiving secret funds.
Yousuf was arrested last year after the NIA launched a campaign against separatists for receiving secret funds to foment unrest in Kashmir.
Yousuf worked in the state agriculture department. After his arrest, the residents of Soibugh, where he lived, and members of civil society had met then chief minister Mehbooba Mufti to seek his release but to no avail.
Others arrested for receiving illegal funds since 2017 include Altaf Ahmed Shah alias Fantoosh, son-in-law of Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani; Mehraj-ad-Din Kalwal, aide of Geelani; Ayaz Akbar, spokesman of the Geelani-led Tehreek-e-Hurriyat; Aftab Hilali alias Shahidul Islam, spokesperson and aide of separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq; Nayeem Khan of National Front and Farooq Dar, former JKLF militant and member of a faction of JKLF and businessman.
The NIA had also raided several businessman traders in connection with receiving secret funds for causing turmoil in Kashmir.
The separatists have termed the arrest of these aides and supporters as intimidation by the Centre to force them into compliance.
Geelani and JKLF leader Yasin Malik have also been served notices by the Enforcement Directorate for violating rules governing foreign exchange.