Geelani's lawyer expelled by Jammu bar association

JAMMU: The Bar Association of Jammu (BAJ) today expelled lawyer Devinder Singh Behal, who is associated with separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani after he was arrested by the NIA in a terror funding case. "As soon as we came to know about his (Behal) activities, we verified our records and immediately decided to expel him without any notice from the primary membership of the association," BAJ president BS Salathia told reporters here. "Ours is a nationalist association and we will not tolerate the presence of any 'anti-national' element, whether associated with Hurriyat or any other group," he said. Widening its probe in the terror funding case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had on July 30 searched the office and residence of Behal over his alleged role in routing funds to separatists from their Pakistan-based handlers. Behal, chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Social Peace Forum (JKSPF)- a constituent of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat headed by Geelani- was arrested following which several of his public speeches during last year's unrest in the Valley went viral on social media, wherein he was heard shouting 'pro-freedom' and 'anti-India' slogans.