Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi rules out any connection with ISIS, says she is fighting for Kashmir

Srinagar: Kashmiri separatist leader and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi has ruled out any connection with the dreaded terror organisation ISIS which has occupied large swathes of land in Iraq and Syria. Andrabi, who also a member of the Hurriyat Conference, accused the government of targeting her as she is "fighting for the Kashmir cause".

"It is a concocted story to frame me. The government is angry because I fight for the Kashmir cause. They have cooked up a story," replied Andrabi when asked about the claims of three youngsters from Hyderabad who were trying to come to Srinagar to meet her in the hope that she would help them in joining the ISIS.

Saying that she knows the family of former Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) chief Syed Salahuddin based in Hyderabad, Andrabi admitted that she went to pay condolence on his death.

Meanwhile, the Centre ordered an investigation by a high-level body into allegations of Andrabi's links with the ISIS.

The three boys - Mohd Abdulla Basith, Syed Omer Farooq Hussaini and Maaz Hasan Farooq (all aged around 20-22) - detained at Nagpur airport and after sustained interrogation put under arrest on December 27.

The three, related to Salahuddin, were booked on charges under sections of IPC 121 (of waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the government), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against government), 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), and also under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The three youths travelled in a car to Nagpur and were nabbed in a joint operation by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and Telangana Police when they were about to board a flight to Srinagar on December 26.

Their parents had earlier registered missing cases after the three left without telling anyone about their plans.

Earlier, in September 2014, Abdullah Basith and Maaz Hasan Farooq made an attempt to go to Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Palestine via Bangladesh, along with two others Abrar and Noman.

However, police foiled their attempt at Kolkata, brought them back to Hyderabad and counselled them in the presence of their parents and let them off.