The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took Kashmiri separatist leader Asiya Andrabi into custody on Friday, June 6. Andrabi, the chief of the banned Dukhtaraan-e-Milat (DeM) outfit, along with two others, were remanded to 10-day NIA custody in connection with a case for allegedly waging war against India.
Andrabi had recently made headlines when she hoisted the Pakistani flag at Srinagar in May. She also sang the national anthem of Pakistan and said all Muslims on the subcontinent are Pakistani.
"For us, people are either Muslims or 'kaafirs' (infidels) and if they are Muslims, then their country is Pakistan," Andrabi was quoted as saying by ANI.
Under the directions of Union Home Ministry, the NIA had registered the case against Andrabi and the DeM for delivering hate speeches in Jammu and Kashmir. Dukhtaraan-e-Milat was banned by the government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
"They are using various media platforms to spread insurrectionary imputations and hateful speeches that endanger the integrity, security, and sovereignty of India. DEM through Aasiya Andrabi openly advocates secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and has also called for Jihad and use of violence against India," Times of India quoted the FIR filed against Andrabi.
"Central government has received information that one Aasiya Andrabi and her associates namely Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen are actively running a terrorist organization named as 'Dukhtaran-E-Millat' (DEM) which is prescribed under the First Schedule to the UAPA," the FIR added.
All you need to know about Asiya Andrabi
- Asiya Andrabi, born in 1963, pursued her under graduation in Home Sciences from Government Women's College in Srinagar.
- Her foray into politics began after joining the women's wing of Jamat-e-Islami, a socio-political party.
- She left Jamat-e-Islami in order to start her own political party called Dukhtaran-e-Millat in 1985
- She became a separatist leader after founding the Islamist organization with a motive to separate Kashmir from India.
- She had stirred quite a lot of controversy including the time when she hoisted Pakistan's flag in Srinagar.
- Andrabi is known for her pro-Pakistan and pro-militant stand
- Andrabi's husband is Ashiq Hussain Faktoo, who is currently serving a life sentence in connection with the killing of human rights activist H N Wanchoo
- She has taken part in several protests staged in Kashmiri, including the infamous 2010 stone-pelting rallies that rocked Kashmir
