Militants, sympathisers exploited weaknesses in J&K bank : NIA chief

JAMMU: Terrorists and their sympathisers exploited the systemic weaknesses in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank, National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Y C Modi said on Monday, hinting at a major action against some officials if found involved.
Modi was addressing a meeting of chiefs of the Anti Terrorism Squads (ATS), where the inaugural address was delivered by union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“When our agency took over the investigation into the terror financing cases related to Jammu and Kashmir, it came to the light that there were systemic weaknesses in the J&K Bank,” Modi said.
“The Bank was not following the KYC rules, was giving unsecured loans and had no systemic data,” he said.
"The terrorists and their sympathisers have taken the advantage of the systemic weaknesses in the J&K Bank.
“They were misusing the banking system," he said.
Earlier this year, the government had raided the J&K Bank’s headquarters and had removed its chairman Parvez Ahmad, while a detailed probe was launched into the financial irregularities.
“Earlier in the meeting, the home minister Amit Shah delivered the inaugural address and highlighted the central government's outlines for the emerging terror threats," a Home Ministry official said.
The top officials of ATS of the states gave presentation on their own anti-terror strategies and the action plans put in place to deal with any kind of emergencies.
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval also participated in the events.
Modi also said that the Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) was trying to spread its tentacles across India and a list of 125 suspects have been shared with different states.
Modi said the JMB has spread its activities in states like Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala in the guise of Bangladeshi immigrants.
"The NIA has shared with states concerned a list of 125 suspected activists who have close links with the JMB leadership," he said.
Giving details of various operational theatres, Inspector General of the NIA, Alok Mittal however said the list, which was shared with the states, contains 130 suspects.
He said from 2014 to 2018, the JMB has set up 20-22 hideouts in Bengaluru and tried to spread its bases in South India.
"The JMB even conducted a trial of rocket launchers in the Krishnagiri hills along the Karnataka border," he said.
Mittal said the JMB was keen to attack Buddhists temples to take revenge for the plight of Rohingiya Muslims in Myanmar.
He said the JMB had started its activities first in 2007, initially in West Bengal and Assam, and then in other parts of the country.
"During the investigation, it was found that the 130 activists were in regular contact with the JMB leadership," he said.
Referring to the attempts to revive terrorism in Punjab, Mittal said the banned terror group Khalistan Liberation Front has been conspiring to disrupt the law and order and communal harmony in in the state with the active support from across the border and and with funding from countries like UK, Australia and France.

Comment on this Story