Srinagar, Oct 28 (UNI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths on Wednesday morning conducted raids at 10 places in Srinagar and Bandipora in north Kashmir in a case related to NGOs and Trusts allegedly diverting funds meant for charitable activities to ‘secessionist and separatist activities’ in Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti reacted sharply to these raids. “NIA conducted searches at 10 locations in Srinagar and Bandipora and one location in Bangalore in connection with a case pertaining to certain so-called NGOs and Trusts raising funds in India and abroad in the name of charitable activities and then using those funds for carrying out secessionist and separatist activities in J&K,” an official said.
He said this case was registered by NIA on October 8, 2020 under section 120B, 124 A IPC and sections 17, 18, 22A, 22C, 38, 39 and 40 UA(P)A, 1967 on receipt of credible information that certain NGOs and Trusts are collecting funds domestically and abroad through so-called donations and business contributions etc and are then utilizing these funds for secessionist and terrorist activities in J&K.
“Those whose premises have been searched include residence and office of Khurram Parvez (co-ordinator of J&K Coalition of Civil Society), his associates Parvez Ahmad Bukhari, Parvez Ahmad Matta and Bengaluru-based associate Swati Sheshadri; Parveena Ahanger, Chairperson of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDPK) and offices of NGO Athrout and GK Trust,” . He said several incriminating documents and electronic devices have been seized, adding further investigation in the case is going on.
Meanwhile, sources said NIA officials raided the office of an English Daily “Greater Kashmir” (GK) at Press Enclave, Partap Park near here this morning. A large number of CRPF and police personnel were deployed in the press enclave before the NIA sleuths raided the GK, housed in a government quarter.
Sources said the officials thoroughly checked the files and also took some documents with them. GK officials were questioned by Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other agencies in the past also in Delhi.
NIA has been conducting raids in Kashmir valley in connection with terror funding and the arrest of former Deputy Superintendent of Police (Dy SP) Devinder Singh, who was apprehended on Srinagar-Jammu national highway while ferrying top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants from Kashmir to Jammu in January 2020.
Meanwhile, taking to micro blogging site Twitter, Mehbooba reacting to raids 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.”
