Srinagar, Nov 25: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple places in south Kashmir’s Shopian and Budgam in central Kashmir in connection with the alleged recruitment into Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) folds.
As per a NIA handout, the raids were carried out in the twin districts in connection with the investigation of NIA Case RC-02/2021/NIA-LKW (Al- Qaeda Case Lucknow, UP).
“The case pertains to Umar Halmandi, an Al-Qaeda operative, who along with other accused persons, had been radicalizing and recruiting vulnerable persons for AQIS (Al-Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent) and trying to raise Ansaar Gajwatul Hind (AGH) to carry out terrorist acts for which they had already arranged arms and explosive substances, ” the NIA statement said.
The case was initially registered as FIR No. 10/2021 dated 11.07.2021, PS-ATS, Uttar Pradesh and NIA had re-registered the same as RC-02/2021/NIA/LKW, on 29.07.2021.
During today’s searches, “large number of incriminating documents and digital devices have been seized,” the NIA said addig
further investigation in the case is continuing.