The New Delhi-controlled State Investigation Agency (SIA) has arrested religious leader Sarjan Barkati in a fake case in Shopian, illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
The SIA claimed that Barkati was involved in an extensive fund-raising campaign through crowd funding within the Kashmir Valley, adding that these funds were used in pro-freedom activities.
A senior official told media that “Barkati, also known as ‘Azadi Chacha,’ rose to prominence in 2016 following the martyrdom of Burhan Wani by Indian forces. Sarjan Barkati played a central role in organizing large-scale protests and rallies against Indian forces in 2016, resulting in the registration of more than 30 FIRs against him at various police stations across the valley.”
“Barkati managed to raise approximately Rs 1.74 crores through crowdfunding campaigns. These funds were ostensibly collected for personal gain, and a significant portion of the collected funds was allegedly misappropriated for undisclosed purposes, possibly including the financing of secessionist and terrorist activities,” SIA claimed.
The Indian agency claimed that Barkati’s activities not only tarnished the integrity of crowd funding but also raised serious concerns about the misuse of such resources for promoting pro-freedom activities.—KMS
