SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday launched a major crackdown on alleged terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir and conducted raids at 10 locations in militancy-hit Kashmir, including the office of a leading English daily, NGOs and the residences of social activists.
The probe, the NIA said, pertains to alleged diversion of funds by the NGOs into carrying out separatist and secessionist activities in the Union Territory.
NIA sleuths accompanied by CRPF reached the office of the leading English daily Greater Kashmir in Srinagar on Wednesday morning.
“The team searched the premises of the newspaper office. They searched the documents and other material available in the office,” a source said.
Simultaneous raids were also carried out at the office of NGO Athrout, and the residence of human rights activist Khurram Parvez (co-ordinator of J&K Coalition of Civil Society), and his associate Parvez Ahmad Matta, journalist Parvez Bukhari and APDP chairperson Parveena Ahangar.
The residence of Hurriyat activist Mohammad Yousuf Sofi alias Salman in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district was also raided.
An NIA spokesperson said searches were conducted at 10 locations in Srinagar and Bandipora with a case pertaining to certain NGOs and trusts raising funds in India and abroad in the name of charitable activities and then allegedly using those funds for carrying out secessionist and separatist activities.
The NIA claimed to have recovered several incriminating documents and electronic devices during the searches. Sources said that the money came through hawala channels from different parts of the country and abroad and were being used to fund terror through NGOs.
Politicians questioned the authenticity of the raids.
“NIA raids on human rights activist Khurram Parvez and Greater Kashmir office in Srinagar is yet another example of GoI’s vicious crackdown on freedom of expressions & dissent,” PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti tweeted.