The National Investigation Agency has requested Jammu and Kashmir government to provide it safe and secure accommodation, preferably in Gupkar high security zone.
In a letter to the chief secretary, the agency has said that its personnel who visit Srinagar frequently for investigations of different cases face life threat and other hurdles.
“We are facing a lot of difficulties in detaining/questioning suspects/accused in absence of our own office,” the NIA letter reads.
“NIA has taken up investigation of a number of sensitive cases in the State of Jammu & Kashmir including attacks on vital security installations at Uri, Nagrota, Langate, Lethopora, and Udhampur”.
“We have also been investigating militant funding related cases in the valley in which several high profile Hurriyat/separatist activists have been arrested.”
“It is therefore,” the letter reads, “requested that a built-up secure accommodation already existing at the Gupkar Road, Srinagar, may kindly be allotted to the NIA for office-cum-residential purposes.”
“NIA officials are required to camp at Srinagar continuously for long periods for investigation related work,” reads the application. “There have been instances of threats to the life of NIA personnel who visit Srinagar frequently.”
The letter adds that Jammu Development Authority had allotted 20 kanals of land in village Majeen for its Jammu branch office and residential complex at a cost of Rs 3.61 crore.
“The amount of Rs. 3.61 crore towards acquisition of this land was paid to JDA on 16-06-2017. However, the land has still not been transferred to NIA by JDA,” the letter said. The NIA has urged the chief secretary to look into both matters “personally”.
“May I, therefore, request you to look into both the matters personally and direct the concerned authorities to allot one ready built safe accommodation at Gupkar Road Srinagar and expedite the transfer of the above piece of land in Jammu so that the construction work could be commenced without any further delay,” the letter added.