NGO terror funding case: NIA arrests program coordinator of J-K Coalition of Civil Societies

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a second person on Wednesday in an NGO terror funding case filed in October 2020 for propagating a secessionist agenda, collecting funds from various international entities based abroad, and channelling money to fund terror activities in the Kashmir valley.

Khurram Parvez, the programme coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS) and the Chairperson of the Philippines-based Organization Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances, has been detained (AFAD). This is the case’s second arrest in three days. The first arrest was made by the agency on March 20.

“Investigations revealed that Khurram Parvez has been collecting funds under the garb of fighting for Human Rights, from various international entities and persons based abroad and channelizing those funds for funding terror activities in the Kashmir valley,” said the NIA.

According to the NIA, Parvez and his friends were also spreading a separatist agenda through their different Organizations. Parvez has previously been charged in another NIA investigation, and he was formally arrested in this case today, according to the NIA.

The issue involves the sponsorship of prohibited terrorist organisations including as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen via Valley-based NGOs, Trusts, and Societies. According to the anti-terror agency, investigations found that Parvez and his colleagues solicited monies to help persons involved in pelting stones at security forces officers and also urged others to do the same.

“These trusts and societies, which have been under investigation, have utilised the funds raised by them to publish anti-national and incriminating material to cause hatred and disaffection towards Government of India,” the NIA added.

According to the NIA, Parvez and his friends were also spreading a separatist agenda through their different Organizations. Parvez has previously been charged in another NIA investigation, and he was formally arrested in this case today, according to the NIA.

“Investigation revealed that the JKCCS was funding terror activities in the valley and had also been in propagation of secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” the NIA has said. Involvement of some Valley based NGOs, Trusts and Societies in funding of terror related activities is being probed in this case, it said.

“Some NGOs, both registered as well as un-registered, have come to notice collecting funds domestically and abroad under the cover of doing charity and various welfare activities, including Public Health and Education,” the NIA had informed earlier.