Rs 29 lakh cash recovered in terror funding case in Kashmir: SIA

State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday (December 3) claimed to have recovered Rs 29 Lakh cash during raids at multiple locations in Kashmir Valley in connection with alleged terror funding case. In a statement, SIA spokesman said, “Continuing to rein in the networks of terror outfits with the purpose of destroying its ecosystems completely, State Investigation Agency, Kashmir conducted searches at multiple locations across Kashmir valley,” SIA said in a statement.

"It said houses and premises of suspects in Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Srinagar and Budgam 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 No. 20/2022) u/s 13, 17, 18, 39, 40 UA  (P) Act, 120-B IPC registered in Police Station CIK (SIA) Kashmir."

“The case pertains to members of proscribed Terror organization (Al-Badar) based in Pakistan who with active support and connivance of Pakistani agencies, hostile to India, under a well-knit criminal conspiracy with some identified person(s)/OGW(s) of proscribed terror organizations in the valley are raising funds for furtherance of terror activities in J&K.”

The SIA claims that the money raised is passed on or transferred through “financial markets or through unregulated channels/through cash couriers.”

In furtherance to this nexus, the SIA said, the network so created have successfully infringed upon various persons of varied background either with or without their knowledge to act as cash carriers. “As a part of this conspiracy, terror funding module have created many sleeper cells/OGW(s) in different parts of Kashmir valley who are facilitating passing on money to various terrorists' organizations in J&K, through banks/unregulated channels/ cash couriers.”

The money received by terrorist organizations in J&K, the SIA said, is not only used for furthering terrorism, unlawful or illegal activities but is also given to Over Ground Workers or OGW(s) to “motivate youth to join terror ranks and sustaining of terrorist ecosystem with an ulterior goal of secession of the J&K from Union of India.”

During the searches, the SIA said, huge cash of Rs 29 lakh was recovered and seized along with passbooks, cheque books, and digital devices like mobile phones and other articles having bearing on the investigation. “Analysis of the data would follow and leads that would emerge would become the basis for further investigation,” the SIA spokesman said, adding, “it is pertinent to mention here that the searches are aimed at dismantling the terror ecosystem in the valley by identifying over ground workers supporting and abetting terrorism.