Srinagar, March 21: National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a Kashmiri journalist in an alleged NGO terror funding case, officials said today.
“Following comprehensive investigations into the NGO Terror funding case registered in October 2020, the National Investigation Agency arrested Irfan Mehraj from Srinagar (J&K) yesterday (20.03.2023),” said an NIA spokesman, in a statement.
He said Irfan Mehraj was a close associate of Khurram Parvez and was working with his organization, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS).
“Investigation revealed that the JKCCS was funding terror activities in the valley and had also been in propagation of secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” added the statement.
“Involvement of some Valley based NGOs, Trusts and Societies in funding of terror related activities is being probed in this case.”
As per the statement, some NGOs, both registered as well as un-registered, have come to notice collecting funds domestically and abroad under the cover of doing charity and various welfare activities, including Public Health, Education etc. “But some of these organisations have developed links with proscribed terrorist organizations, such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) etc.,” it added.