The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been conducting raids at eight locations across the districts of Kishtwar, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, and Reasi in connection with an alleged terror infiltration case in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
The raids come a day after the agency arrested Muneer Ahmad Banday, an accused in a 2020 Kashmir narco-terror case.
The case links a conspiracy by Pakistan-based terrorist organisations to procure and sell narcotics to generate funds for promoting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to NIA, Banday, who had evaded arrest for four years, played a crucial role in the conspiracy, which involved raising funds to support terror activities in the region through over-ground workers (OGWs).
The agency stated, “The conspiracy, involving operatives of banned terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), came to light in June 2020 when Handwara (Kupwara) police seized 2 kg of heroin and ₹20 lakh in cash during a vehicle check at Kairo Bridge.”
Drug consumption in Jammu and Kashmir has reportedly surged since 2020, with experts attributing this to the easy availability of narcotics in the region.
The NIA is intensifying its efforts to dismantle the narco-terror network, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, which has become a transit hub for cross-border drug trafficking.
This is a developing story..
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