Srinagar, Nov 9: State Investigation Agency (SIA) teams, with the assistance of Jammu Kashmir police and CRPF personnel, conducted the raids in around 22 locations in Kashmir and New Delhi on Wednesday.
Jammu-based Daily Excelsior reported that out of the 22 locations, 18 were raided in Srinagar, one each in Anantnag and Pulwama, besides two in Delhi.
The residences of a Kashmiri businessman Imtiyaz Ahmad Kawoosa, lawyer Uzair Ahmad Ronga, Ishfaq Ahmad Wani son of Nazir Ahmad Wani of Degdehar Zoonimar, Sabir Ahmad Qazi son of Nazir Ahmad Qazi of Naiddoori Milli Staff Srinagar and Irfan Bashir Mir son of Bashir Ahmad Mir of Hawal were raided, reports suggest.
The houses of a real estate dealer, Shabir Ahmad of Panzgam Kokernag in district Anantnag, and Rafiq Ahmad Mir of Kadalbal Pampore in Pulwama district who is a saffron trader were also raided.
During the search operation incriminating material in the shape of bank documents, cash books, credit cards, debit cards, cheque books, invoices, mobile phones, Sim cards, passports were confiscated, which may prove crucial during the investigation in the terror funding case.
Quoting an official, Excelsior reported that the case pertains to illegal raising, layering and laundering of illegal proceeds of crime by the accused persons which subsequently might have been used in unlawful activities including secessionism and militancy.
The official stated that a case had been registered at Police Station SIA Kashmir following a thorough investigation.
During the course of the inquiry, it was discovered that a staggering amount of Rs 85 crores had been illicitly raised and laundered within a brief period of less than two years.
“The majority of these transactions were conducted in cash, deliberately aiming to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies. As a result of the inquiry’s findings, we have registered case FIR No 08 of 2023 under the appropriate sections of the law,” official said.
