Cross-LoC trade: NIA carries out searches at 9 locations in J&K

The raids were carried out as part of its probe into large-scale transfer of money by Pakistan through cross-LoC trade to fund terror activities.

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During the searches conducted at multiple locations, the spokesperson said documents, digital devices and other incriminating material have been recovered from the premises of the suspects. (Representational)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday conducted searches on the premises of traders along the Line of Control (LoC) at nine places in Poonch district as part of investigations into large-scale transfer of money by Pakistan through cross-LoC trade to fund terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

During the searches, the agency recovered documents, digital devices and other incriminating materials, said an official statement.

Sources said the searches were conducted at Poonch, Kunaiyan, Chandhak, Degwar and Chaktro areas. A case had been registered by the agency in this regard on December 9, 2016 under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, they said. The NIA was assisted in the searches by officials of J&K Police, CRPF and ITBP.

LoC trade was started in the year 2008 as part of confidence-building measures between J&K and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The trade was based on a barter system and third-party goods were not allowed, it added.

The current case is related to transfer of funds from Pakistan to India through the import of California Almonds (badam-giri) and other items via the Cross-LoC Trade Facilitation Centres (TFCs) at Uri’s Salamabad area in Baramulla district and Poonch district’s Chakkan-Da-Bag area. These funds were purportedly being used to foment terrorism/separatism in Jammu & Kashmir, the statement said.

Investigation revealed that some of the traders having excess imports diverted the surplus profits to terror organisations, while others were suspected to have links with proscribed terrorist organisations.

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