Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 29: National Investigating Agency (NIA) today conducted searches at seven locations in Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Kulgam and two locations in New Delhi in connection with the case pertaining to certain NGOs and Trusts raising funds and allegedly using the same for secessionist and separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
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The Investigating Agency said that in continuation of yesterday’s search operations, it conducted searches at 7 locations in Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag & Kulgam (J&K) and two locations in Delhi in connection with the case pertaining to certain NGOs and Trusts raising funds in the name of charitable activities and then using those funds for carrying out secessionist and separatist activities in J&K.
“This case was registered by NIA on 8/10/2020 u/s 120B, 124 A IPC and sections 17, 18, 22A, 22C, 38, 39 and 40 UA(P)A, 1967 as per the directions of MHA on receipt of credible information that certain NGOs and Trusts are collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations and business contributions etc. in the name of various welfare activities such as public health, education etc. Further, these funds are sent to J&K through various channels such as hawala and cash couriers and are used to carry out and sustain secessionist and militant activities in J&K,” the NIA statement said.
The agency said that the premises of NGOs/ Trusts/ Foundation that were searched include JK Yateem Foundation at Srinagar and Kulgam, The Salvation Movement at Srinagar, run by Zafar Akbar Bhat, Human Welfare Foundation at Delhi and Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir Voice of Victims at Baramulla, run by Abdul Qadeer, Falah-e- Aam Trust at Budgam, run by GM Bhat and Charity Alliance, at Delhi, run by Zafarul Islam. Several incriminating documents and electronic devices have been seized during searches. “Further investigation in the case continues,” the investigating agency said.
These raids started early in the morning and house of Huriyat Conference leader Zafar Akbar Bhat was raided at Bagh-e-Mehtab area of Srinagar which lasted for several hours during which some documents were seized by the NIA.
These raids were conducted day after those which were conducted in Srinagar at the office of Greater Kashmir, house and office of noted human rights activist Khurram Parviaz, house of senior journalist and former Executive Editor of Greater Kashmir and member of JKCCS, Zahirudin, house of senior journalist Pervaiz Bukhari who works with various international media houses including the AFP, the house and office of Chairperson of Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) and office and residence of office bearers of an NGO Athrut.
In the meantime, various journalist bodies today condemned the continuous harassment of media institutions and Kashmiri journalists.
A joint statement issued by Journalist Federation of Kashmir, Kashmir Working Journalist Association, Kashmir Journalist Corps, Kashmir National Television Journalist Association, Anjuman-e-Urdu Sahafat Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir Photo Journalist Association, Kashmir Journalist Association and Kashmir Press Club, reads: “We condemn the continuous harassment of media institutions and Kashmiri journalists, including Parvaiz Bukhari, an internationally known journalist, who works for Agency France Press as its Kashmir correspondent.”
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