Terror Funding | NIA widens probe, conducts fresh raids

Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency probing the alleged funding for subversive activities in Kashmir raided about a dozen more locations across the Valley on Wednesday. The houses of a prominent Kashmiri businessman and a lawyer were also searched.

A source in J&K police said that raids were carried out in Srinagar, Baramulla and Handwara areas. “People and places raided on Wednesday are linked to the accused being investigated for funding unrest and militancy in Kashmir,” he said.

In Srinagar, a police source said, the NIA sleuths raided the house of advocate Muhammad Shafi Reshi at Gulbarg colony in uptown here while another raid was conducted at house of Ghulam Muhammad at Alochi Bagh in civil lines.

A NIA statement said during searches “lot of incriminating material, suspect financial records and property-related documents and electronic devices including mobile phones, pen drives and hard drives” were recovered from the house of advocate Reshi. “Some of the documents seized during the raid are related to receipt of money from suspect foreign sources and distribution of money so received to certain persons in Kashmir,” the statement added.

In Handwara, a source said, the NIA sleuths raided residential houses of Ghulam Muhammad Rather and Abdul Aziz Mir at Bakiahker and Machipora areas respectively.

A police source said that NIA sleuths raided the houses of Peerzada Ghulam Nabi and Ghulam Muhammad Bhat at Tarhama Kunzar in Baramulla district and Mazhama village near Magam in Budgam district.

It may be recalled that NIA has so far arrested seven persons for their alleged role in funding militancy and causing unrest in Kashmir. The arrested accused include Altaf Ahmad Shah, son-in law of Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Nayeem Khan, Shahid-ul-Islam, the close aide of Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karatay, Ayaz Akbar Khanday, Mehrajuddin Kalwal and Peer Safiullah.

The NIA had also conducted searches in Haryana, Jammu and New Delhi. Nayeem Geelani and Naseem Geelani, two sons of Hurriyat (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, were also questioned and they have been called to Delhi again for further questioning.

The NIA also questioned Faheem Ali, a deputy superintendent of police, former personal security officer of Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Devender Singh Behl, a lawyer associated with Hurriyat (G).