NIA probes Reasi, Pahalgam attacks; locals accused of aiding terrorists also under investigation in terror cases
New Delhi
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday conducted coordinated raids at 22 locations across five states and Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a major terror conspiracy case.
The searches began early morning and covered eight locations in Bihar, nine in Jammu and Kashmir, two in Uttar Pradesh, and one each in Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. State police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) assisted to ensure smooth execution.
Officials said the case relates to a conspiracy involving recruitment of youth, raising funds, and creating sleeper cells for unlawful activities. Several residential and commercial premises suspected of links with radical groups were searched.
Electronic gadgets, communication devices, documents, and digital records were seized for forensic analysis. “The collected evidence is crucial for linking suspects with banned outfits operating in India and across the border,” sources said.
Jammu and Kashmir was the focal point, with raids targeting suspects believed to have connections with overseas terror networks. The NIA has stepped up such operations nationwide to disrupt terror modules and their support systems.
Officials added that Monday’s action marks a strong move against elements seeking to destabilise peace. The agency is also probing high-profile cases, including terror funding and targeted killings.
The April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists killed 26 civilians, including 25 tourists, is part of ongoing investigations. Security forces later eliminated the three attackers—Suleman, Jibran, and Hamza Afghani—during Operation Mahadev in Srinagar’s Dachigam National Park on July 28.
Photographs recovered from a seized mobile phone had earlier confirmed their role in the massacre.
