Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 31: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) today continued its crackdown on the newly floated militant outfits and seized incriminating literature and several digital devices.
The NIA conducted raids at least three locations in Budgam district in a case today. The raids started early today and the NIA was assisted by Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF.
The NIA searched the residence of Farooq Ahmad Bhat, son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat and house of Zubair Ahmad Dar, son of Late Abdul Hamid Dar, both residents of Aripathen.
Another team raided the residential house of Ali Mohammad Dar, son of Ghulam Ahmad in the same village of the district.
The NIA spokesman said that the searches were conducted at three locations in the Kashmir valley, in the residential premises of sympathizers/cadres, hybrid militants and Over Ground Workers (OGWs) linked with the newly-formed offshoots and affiliates of several proscribed Pakistan-backed militant outfits, such as Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), AI-Badr, AI-Qaeda, etc.
According to spokesman, the day-long raids and searches were conducted at locations in Srinagar and Budgam districts, as part of the ongoing NIA investigations into the activities of the recently formed militant groups, including The Resistance Front (TRF), United Liberation Front Jammu & Kashmir (ULFJ&K), Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind (MGH), Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Fighters (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers and PAAF.
A total of 51 locations have been searched in recent days in connection with the conspiracy case (RC-05/2022/NIA/JMU), which was registered suo moto by NIA on 21st June 2022.
The case relates to hatching of a conspiracy, both physical and in cyber space, and plans by the proscribed militant organisations to unleash violent militant attacks in J&K with sticky bombs, IEDs and small arms etc.
“The plans are part of a larger conspiracy to carry out acts of militant and violence, by radicalising local youth and mobilising overground workers, to disturb the peace and communal harmony of J&K,” he said.
“Cadres and workers of the newly formed organisations have been found to be involved in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs/magnetic bombs, IEDs, funds, narcotic substances and arms/ammunition, etc. They are spreading activities relating to militancy, violence and subversion in J&K, as per NIA investigations,” he said.
“Investigations have further revealed that Pak-based operatives are using drones to deliver arms/ ammunitions, explosives, narcotics etc. to their operatives and cadres in the Kashmir valley. These operatives are using the social media to connect with the cadres and workers in India,” read the statement.