After the Pulwama attack, the security cover of more than 150 separatists leaders were revoked by the government of India. Several regional leaders including JKLF Chief Yaseen Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq were detained by the J&K police, following the hearing in the Supreme Court of India of Article-35A.
Now, in a fresh development The NIA (National Investigation Agency) on Tuesday conducted nearly 9 different raids on the establishment of separatist leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Nayeem Geelani, Yaseen Malik, Shabir Shah, Ashraf Sehrai and Zafar Bhat, in an alleged terror funding case.
Srinagar: Visuals from outside the residence of JKLF chief Yasin Malik where NIA is conducting a raid. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/Ui3oIJKiI3
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2019
The J&K Police , along with CRPF accompanied the NIA in carrying out the searches.
The case is concerned to hawala channels, via which separatist leaders allegedly receive fund from Pakistan.
NIA has raided residence of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Shabir Shah as well in Srinagar, Kashmir. Finally a major crackdown on radical separatists. Earlier in the day NIA had raided Yasin Malik residence as well. pic.twitter.com/lQWye4jC3M
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) February 26, 2019
Earlier NIA also released a picture of Sajjad Bhat, citing that he is the owner of the vehicle used in Pulwama attack.
NIA: Sajjad Bhat (owner of vehicle used in #PulwamaAttack) has reportedly joined Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). (Pic courtesy: NIA) pic.twitter.com/NGRxTb7Wb7
— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2019
“The NIA conducted searches at 12 locations belonging to separatists and hawala operators in Kashmir Valley in connection with the Kashmir terror funding case. The locations are spread over Srinagar, Handwara, Kupwara and Pulwama,”an NIA spokesperson said.
In a report, it is said that an official in Srinagar said the driver, Ghulam Nabi, and three houses of the relatives of businessman Zahoor Watali, brother of former inspector general of police Ali Muhammad Watali, were raided in Srinagar and different localities of Tangmarg, Baramulla.