J-K: NIA raids seven districts in Pakistan-backed terrorist conspiracy case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) searched 15 locations in Jammu and Kashmir’s seven districts on Tuesday in connection with the Pakistan-backed terrorist conspiracy case. The search was conducted by officials from the Central Anti-Terrorism Agency in four locations in Anantnag, three in Shopian, two each in Budgam, Srinagar, and Poonch, and one each in Baramulla and Rajouri districts in the Union Territory. On June 21, last year, the NIA initiated an investigation into the terrorist conspiracy.

The NIA is being assisted by the Central Reserve Police Force and police personnel in these 15 locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The locations being searched are associated with suspects in the case.

Searches are being carried out specifically at the premises of cadres and hybrid overground workers linked with the affiliates and offshoots of different terrorist organisations, operating under pseudo names such as “The Resistance Front” (TRF), “United Liberation Front Jammu and Kashmir” (UL J&K), “Mujahideen Gazwat-ul-Hind” (MGH), “Jammu and Kashmir Freedom Fighters” (JKFF), Kashmir Tigers, “People’s Anti-Fascist Front” (PAAF) and others.

On May 2, last year, the NIA searched 12 locations in Jammu and Kashmir until late in the evening in the case. The locations searched at the time included 11 in Kashmir valley (eight in Pulwama district, one each in Kulgam, Anantnag, and Budgam districts), and one in Jammu, Poonch.

The case involves the hatching of a physical and cyber-based conspiracy, as well as plans by proscribed terrorist organisations to carry out violent terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir using sticky bombs, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and small arms.

“The plans are part of a larger conspiracy by the terrorist groups to commit terror acts in association with local youths and overground workers in order to create communal disharmony in Jammu and Kashmir,” the NIA has said.

Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), Al-Badr, and Al-Qaeda were among the terrorist organisations involved in the plot. According to the NIA’s preliminary investigations, these workers and cadres were involved in the collection and distribution of sticky bombs or magnetic bombs, IEDs, cash, narcotics, and small weapons.

“These weapons, bombs, narcotics etc were being pushed onto the Indian soil by Pakistan-based handlers and commanders of proscribed terrorist organisations using drones to the terrorists active in the Kashmir valley,” NIA officials said.

On June 24, last year, the NIA conducted similar multiple searches in the terror conspiracy case at 14 locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The searches, which took place in Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag Budgam, and Kathua at the time, resulted in the seizure of incriminating material and digital devices.

On June 24, last year, the NIA conducted similar multiple searches in the terror conspiracy case at 14 locations in Jammu and Kashmir. The searches, which took place in Srinagar, Baramulla, Pulwama, Anantnag Budgam, and Kathua at the time, resulted in the seizure of incriminating material and digital devices.