JAMMU, OCT 3: NIA on Sunday conducted searches in the premises of traders associated with cross LoC trade at nine places in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
The searches had come during ongoing investigations by NIA in a five year old case registered in connection with funding of terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir with money sent by Pakistan through cross LoC trade. The case was registered by NIA under provisions of Section 17 of the UA(P) Act, 1967 on December 9, 2016.
During searches, which were carried out with the assistance of J&K Police, CRPF and ITBP, NIA recovered documents, digital devices and other incriminating materials from the premises of the suspects .
The LoC trade was started in the year 2008 as a part of confidence-building measure between J&K and PoK on the basis of barter system, sources said, adding that the third party origin goods were not allowed in it.
The instant case relates 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, Uri, District Baramulla and Chakkan-Da-Bag, District Poonch. These funds were purportedly being used for fomenting terrorism / separatism in Jammu & Kashmir.
Investigation into the case revealed that some of the traders having excess imports were channelizing the surplus profit generated to terror organizations while others are suspected to have links with proscribed terrorist organizations.
Further investigation in the case continues.