Baramulla/Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches at four places in Kashmir on Wednesday in connection with a case related to cross-LoC trade and “terror financing”, an official said.
The searches were conducted at three locations in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and one in Handwara in Kupwara district, a spokesperson of the NIA said.
Among the places raided are the residences of Zahoor Ahmed Malla, son Bashir Ahmed Malla of Old town Baramulla, who is currently lodged in Udhampur jail; Mehrajuddin Bhat, son of Gulam Mohammad Bhat of Khawjabagh Baramulla, and Feroz Ahmad Shiekh, Khalid Shiekh, Zahoor Sheikh, sons of Ghulam Ahmad Shiekh of Dewan Colony Nishat, owners of Hotel Hilton, Pahalgam.
The spokesperson said the case pertains to generation of additional profits through trade across the Line of Control (LoC) between Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-administered-Kashmir and “using the proceeds for fomenting terrorist activities” in the Union territory.
The case was registered on December 16, 2016.
The cross-LoC trade started in 2008 via two trade facilitation centres in Baramulla and Poonch.
The trade has been suspended since April 2019.
The spokesperson said digital devices along with incriminating documents have been seized during the searches in Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
“Further investigation in the case continues,” the spokesperson said.
