NEW DELHI: Continuing its crackdown on separatists in the valley, the National Investigation Agency on Thursday conducted raids in Kashmir, Jammu, Delhi and Gurugram on Hurriyat leaders, suspect LoC traders and CAs working for hawala dealers and recovered several documents which link terror funding received from Pakistan to the separatists.Officials said that the prominent persons raided by NIA include Pro-Pakistan faction Hurriyat leaders Ghulam Nabi Sumji and Syed Aga Hassan Budgami, apart from two close associates of Shabbir Shah - Zameer Sheikh and Razzaq Choudhary. Froom Razzaq's place, three arms - a pistol, a double-barrel gun and a .3 15 bore rifle were recovered, possession of which is being investigated.The offices of chartered accountants working for arrested Kashmir valley businessman Zahoor Ahmad Watali were also searched.NIA officials recovered fixed deposits worth Rs 1 crore, suspect financial records, property related documents and other incriminating papers, which are being analysed with the help of CAs and income tax department officials.All of them, NIA said, are suspected of fuelling secessionist and subversive activities in Jammu and Kashmir.The central agency has paced its probe in Jammu and Kashmir terror funding and is planning of questioning alleged mastermind of all the subversive activities in valley - Syed Ali Shah Geelani by end of this month.Eight persons including seven senior separatists and one businessman were arrested by NIA out of which one has turned approver in the case and has recorded his statement against anti-national activities of other Hurriyat leaders.Meanwhile, ED is also probing money laundering by separatists/hawala traders/LoC traders while funding terror/stone pelting activities in the valley. It has already received a copy of NIA FIR in the case and will soon formally file a case under prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Source: Times of India September 07, 2017 15:28 UTC