NIA conducts raids in Kashmir; PDP chief slams Modi government

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday (October 28) conducted raids on NGOs and journalists including Greater Kashmir newspaper’s office in connection with alleged terror funding activities.

The NIA team was assisted by the local police and paramilitary. At least three non-governmental organisations founded in 2000 were raided by the NIA, officials said, according to news agency PTI.

Human rights activist Khurram Parvez’s residence was also raided by the NIA. In all, 10 locations, nine in Srinagar and one in Bengaluru were raided, according to a report on India Today website.

Related News: Kashmir Times office sealed in Srinagar, given no reason

Funds were sourced through hawala channels and were being used to spread terror in Kashmir, the report said quoting sources.

The sources added that the money came through hawala channels from different parts of the country and abroad and were being used to fund terror activities in Kashmir through NGOs.

In 2016, Parvez was arrested. However, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court quashed the preventive detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and directed the government to release him forthwith saying he was not given an opportunity to make a representation.

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti reacted to the raids and termed them Government of India’s “vicious crackdown on freedom of expression and dissent”.

“NIA raids on human rights activist Khurram Parvez & Greater Kashmir office in Srinagar is yet another example of GOIs vicious crackdown on freedom of expression & dissent. Sadly, NIA has become BJPs pet agency to intimidate & browbeat those who refuse to fall in line (sic),” the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief wrote on her Twitter page.

In another tweet, she said, “At a time when J&K’s land & resources are being plundered, GOI wants media publications to write op-eds about diabetes & yoga. In BJP’s ‘all is well’ charade, truth is the biggest casualty. Any journalist unwilling to become a part of Godi media is targeted (sic).”