NIA has launched a major crackdown on terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir and conducted raids on several NGOs and other organisations in Kashmir and Bengaluru on Wednesday morning. NIA sources have said terror operations were being funded by sourcing funds from foreign countries in the name of business, religious works and other social works by these organisations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The residence of Khuram Parvez, a key person running the concerned NGO in Kashmir, was raided on Wednesday by NIA in the latest crackdown on terror funding. Journalists Parvaiz Bukhari and Gowhar Geelani also raided by NIA. NIA conducted raids at 10 locations in Kashmir alone and another in Bengaluru. Among the 10 sites, 9 are in Srinagar while another is in Bandipora. NIA slueths conducted raids at four different locations in Srinagar, including Sonwar, Nawa Kadal, Nehru Park and Pratap Park area.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team assisted by the local police and paramilitary forces searched the office of the trust which is located on the premises of a prominent English daily based in Kashmir. At least three other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) founded in 2000 were raided by the NIA for alleged terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir. Funds were sourced through hawala channels and were being used to spread terror in Kashmir, said the sources.
Sources told that the money came through hawala channels from different parts of the country and abroad and were being used to fund terror activities in Kashmir through NGOs. Slamming the move, former J&K chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti has said, “NIA raids on human rights activist Khurram Parvez & Greater Kashmir office in Srinagar is yet another example of GOIs vicious crackdown on freedom of expression & dissent. Sadly, NIA has become BJPs pet agency to intimidate & browbeat those who refuse to fall in line.”