Terror funding case: NIA conducts raids in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi

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New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at 11 locations in Jammu and Kashmir and the national capital in connection with its ongoing probe into the terror funding to stoke unrest in the Valley.

The probe agency is currently conducting raids at six locations in Srinagar and five in Delhi.

Earlier, the NIA had arrested seven separatist leaders in connection with its probe into terror funding from Pakistan and militant groups based there.

The NIA had alleged that money was being raised to fund separatist and terror activities in J&K.

The agency had claimed that the accused were waging war against the country and were involved in various offences punishable under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's son-in-law Altaf Shah was among those arrested. Other arrested are Nayeem Khan, Ayaz Akbar Khanday, Mehrajuddin Kalwal, Peer Saifullah (all from Geelani's faction of Hurriyat), Shahid-ul-Islam (of the Hurriyat faction led by the Mirwaiz) and Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karatay of a faction of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Kashmiri businessman Zahoor Watali was also arrested and sent to NIA custody by a court earlier this month.

Former Pakistan-administered Kashmir Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary had attended the marriage ceremony of Watali's son at the businessman's residence in the posh Srinagar neighbourhood of Baagaat. His business empire is reportedly spread in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh and Dubai.

Watali was arrested by the NIA on the charges of receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terror activities and stone-pelting in Kashmir. He is said to be close to Geelani.