NIA raids nine premises in Poonch district

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 3

The NIA today said it had raided the premises of a trader at nine locations in Poonch district in connection with a case relating to trade across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.

Officials said the search was conducted with active assistance of personnel of the J&K Police, the CRPF and the ITBP.

A senior NIA official said, “Documents, digital devices and other incriminating materials have been seized.”

Cross-loC trade case

• The trade across LoC was started in 2008 as a part of confidence-building measure but stopped indefinitely on April 18, 2019
• Reports stated that the channel was being misused to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency into Indian territory

He said an investigation revealed that some of the traders having excess imports were “channelising the surplus profit generated to terror organisations, while others are suspected to have links and connections with proscribed terrorist organisations”. The case was registered by the NIA on December 9, 2016 under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The LoC trade was started in 2008 as a part of confidence-building measure between J&K and PoK. The trade was based on barter system, as third party-origin goods were not allowed.

The instant case is related to the large-scale 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) located at Salamabad in Uri, Baramulla, and Chakkan-Da-Bag in Poonch.

On April 18, 2019, India indefinitely suspended the cross-LoC trade at the two points following reports that it was being “misused” by elements to smuggle weapons, narcotics and fake currency.

These funds were purportedly being used for fomenting terrorism and separatism, the NIA has alleged, while claiming that further investigation continues.