Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday conducted searches at 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir's capital, Baramulla and Handwara in connection with its ongoing probe into the terror funding to stoke unrest in the Valley.


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The raids were a follow-up action in the terror funding case.


NIA officials said those being searched today have alleged links to persons being investigated in this case.


Those searched included three close associates of Zahoor Watali, a prominent businessman in Kashmir, who was already under the NIA scanner and has been quizzed by the agency officials earlier.


The NIA is also raiding the houses and office of Shafi Rishi, a prominent lawyer in Kashmir and Peerzada Nabi, a prominent businessman. 


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


The NIA registered the case on 30 May, accusing separatist and secessionist leaders of being involved with terrorist groups.


The seven -- Nayeem Khan, Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Bitta Karate, Altaf Ahmad Shah, Shahid-ul-Islam, Ayaz Akbar, Peer Saifullah and Raja Mehrajuddin Kalwal -- were arrested on charges of receiving funds from Pakistan to sponsor terror activities and stone pelting in the Valley.


Shah is the son-in-law of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who advocates Jammu and Kashmir`s merger with Pakistan, and Shahid-ul-Islam is a close aide of moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. Akbar is the spokesperson for the Geelani-led Hurriyat.


The case was registered over raising, receiving and collecting funds through various illegal means for funding separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.


The case also included causing disruption in the Valley by pelting security forces with stones, burning schools, damaging public property and waging war against India.