The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted fresh raids in several parts of Kashmir in connection with its prolonged crackdown to unearth funding to secessionist and subversive activities in Kashmir. On Wednesday, a dozen locations were raided including the residence of a prominent high court lawyer Muhammad Shafi Reshi who is also aide of Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani. Reshi’s nephew Yasir Reshi is a legislator with ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Sources said the raids were conducted in capital Srinagar, Handwara, Kupwara, Tangmarg and Pulwama towns at houses and business locations. The NIA officials termed the raids as “follow up searches in the J&K terror funding case.”
“NIA conducted searches at 12 locations belonging to separatists and Hawala operators in Kashmir valley in connection with the Kashmir Terror Funding case. The locations are spread over Srinagar, Handwara, Kupwara and Pulwama,” officials said.
They said that during raids at houses of Shafi Reshi and Zahoor Watali ( a prominent businessman) a lot of incriminating material, suspect financial records and property-related documents and electronic devices including mobile phones, pen drives and hard drives have been seized during the searches. “Some of the documents seized relate to receipt of money from suspect foreign sources and distribution of money so received to certain persons in Kashmir valley,” the NIA officials said.
They said the suspects are being questioned about the incriminating recoveries made from them.
The NIA has already arrested several Hurriyat leaders including Nayeem Ahmad Khan, Noor Mohammad Kalwal, Peer Saif-ullah, Ayaz Akbar, Shahid-ul-Islam, Farooq Ahmad Dar (Bita Karate) and Mehraj-u-din Kalwal. The NIA has also quizzed two sons of Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani on charges of illegal funding. Although Geelanis were let go after their round of questioning at New Delhi, they have been asked to present themselves again.
The terror funding case was registered in June when a Delhi based TV channel conducted a sting operation on separatist leader Nayeem Khan and Bitta Karate who conceded that the Kashmir unrest is fuelled by funding from across the border. Seven separatist leaders and workers, rounded up by the NIA are presently lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Another prominent separatist leader Shabir Shah has been arrested by the enforcement directorate.
The separatists have denied involvement in the terror funding case and they describe the crackdown as a ploy to suppress the anti-India movement in Kashmir.