National Investigation Agency attaches 4 houses of narco-terror accused

Naseer Ganai

Srinagar, February 24

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday attached four properties and seized Rs 2.27 crore in cash in connection with a narco-terrorism case, officials said. The agency stated the case involved two proscribed militant outfits — Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

12 arrested so far

• The National Investigation Agency says 12 accused have so far been arrested in connection with the case. It has char-gesheeted 15 individuals.
• The seized properties belong to Afaq Ahmad Wani, Muneer Ahmad Pandey, Saleem Andrabi and Islam ul Haq.

“The properties belonging to four accused have been attached in Handwara tehsil of Kupwara district. The NIA has also seized a total of Rs 2.27 crore in cash under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The immovable properties attached include a two-storey house of accused Afaq Ahmad Wani, a single-storey house of accused Muneer Ahmad Pandey, a house of Saleem Andrabi and a two-storey house of Islam ul Haq,” the NIA statement mentioned.

According to the agency, “A total of 12 accused have so far been arrested in connection with the case, in which the NIA has chargesheeted 15 individuals.”

“The case relates to the use of the proceeds of narcotic drugs to fund violent terror activities by the LeT and the HM operating in the Handwara-Kupwara region.

The case was registered following the recovery of a large number of Indian currency notes of 500 denomination during checking of vehicles in Langate area of Handwara. The seizure was made from a car that bore no registration number,” the National Investigation Agency said.

“Preliminary questioning of the car’s driver, Abdul Momin Peer, had led to the revelations about the narco-terror nexus which had sparked detailed investigation by the NIA. During the initial searches in the houses of various accused, 21-kg heroin was seized in addition to various incriminating material, including large sums of cash,” the statement of the National Investigation Agency added. The security forces across Jammu and Kashmir have been on high alert in the wake of frequent terror activities.

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