Militancy Funding Case: SIA searches 14 houses, business premise in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 22: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday morning carried searches at multiple locations across Kashmir in connection with the militancy funding case.
Sources said that the sleuths of SIA accompanied by the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a raid at the residence of Mohammad Altaf at Sultanpora village in the district.
The searches were also conducted at Palpora, Parimpora, Noorbagh, Residency road and at Awneer in Shopian in South Kashmir.
It has been learnt that SIA raided the residential house of 65-year-old Gulzar Ahmed Bhat S/O Mohammad Sabbir Bhat R/O Aawneera Zainpora, who is a Government Employee (PHE Department).
Meanwhile, a statement issued reads, continuing to rein in the financial networks of militant outfits with a purpose of destroying its ecosystem and support structure of militancy completely, SIA, Kashmir conducted searches at multiple locations across the valley.
About 14 houses and a business premise of suspects in Srinagar, Sopore, Baramulla and Shopian were searched in compliance to search warrant obtained from the Court of Special Judge, Designated under NIA Act (TADA/POTA) Srinagar in connection with investigation of case FIR number 7/2022 u/s 13, 18, 19, 39, 40 UA(P) Act, 121, 121-A IPC, registered in Police Station CIK (SIA) Kashmir.
“The case pertains to financial networks of militant outfits operating in the valley. The case came to be registered on a reliable information that a group of over ground workers of militant organisations in connivance with and active support from their Pakistan based militant handlers including militants who had exfiltrated from valley, now based in Pakistan are arranging a variety of logistic support including channelling finances with the overall objective of furthering and sustaining militant activities in J&K in order to destabilize the Union of India by clandestinely waging war,” the statement said.
During the searches, incriminating material, electronic gadgets, mobile phones, bank documents and other articles having bearing on the investigation have been recovered and seized, the statement said, adding that analysis of the data would follow and leads that would emerge would become the basis for further investigation.
The searches are aimed at dismantling the financial networks of the militant outfits, the statement added. (KNO)