NIA raids multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir in Pulwama terror funding case, NGOs also on radar

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids across Kashmir valley in Srinagar, Kupwara, Budgam, Pulwama and Shopian in an NGO terror funding case this morning. These NGOs have been funding stone pelting in 2010 and 2016.

The NIA officials raided the house of Zubair Siddiq Dar, son of Mohammad Sadiq Dar at Bonpora Batmaloo. He was later brought to PS Batmaloo for questioning.

The NIA also raided the residences of Arshid Indrabi, son of Ghulam Qadir at Cooperative Colony Peerbagh. The NIA sleuths also raided the house of Saleem Ahmad Malik at Kralpora Kupwara in the morning.

Another team of the NIA raided the residence of Advocate Parvaiz Ahmad Sheikh, son of Ghulam Qadir at Kanta Bagh Kralpora.

According to reports in the media, the NIA stated that a number of NGO’s in the name of charity were collecting funds domestically as well as from abroad. However, this money was being used for terror related activities.

Previous Raids conducted by NIA in Jammu and Kashmir

Earlier on July 11, NIA conducted searches at five locations in South Kashmir in a terror conspiracy case.

Similarly, in May this year, the NIA also searched 13 locations in Budgam, Shopian, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Anantnag districts of Jammu and Kashmir in a case that relates to the hatching of a conspiracy by terror outfits through both physical and cyberspace.

As per the NIA, which registered the case last year, proscribed terrorist organisations hatched plans to unleash violent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with sticky bombs, Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)and small arms.

The agency had earlier said that the plans were part of a larger conspiracy by these terrorist outfits to commit acts of terror and violence, in association with local youth and overground workers, to disturb the peace and communal disharmony in Jammu and Kashmir.

NIA is a specialised law enforcement organisation that fights terrorism. Under a signed decree from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the agency has the authority to handle the investigation of terrorism-related offences across states without the need for special consent from states.