Director General of National Investigative Agency, Yogesh Chandra Modi arrived here Tuesday on a two-day visit, officials said, as the federal probe body is seeking permanent office and residential space for its personnel in the capital city.
Modi is also likely to meet with Governor N N Vohra to brief him about status of investigations the Agency has taken up involving cases of militant attacks and funding.
This is Modi’s first visit to Kashmir after taking over the stewardship of NIA last October. Officials said one of his top priorities also will be to discuss the matter of establishing a permanent camp in a secure area of Srinagar.
A senior NIA official told Greater Kashmir Modi arrived in Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon and was scheduled to leave back for Delhi on Wednesday.
“In the backdrop of NIA activities, his visit and engagements are important in nature,” a top NIA official in know of developments said, declining to be identified.
The senior official said the NIA chief will take stock of progress of ongoing investigations in various militancy related cases.
“He (Modi) will be accompanied by senior officers and will meet the NIA teams active in Kashmir,” he said.
The top boss of NIA is likely to meet with Governor N N Vohra.
“He (Modi) will brief him (Vohra) about the investigation and status of the cases dealt by NIA,” the NIA official said.
“The issue of permanent accommodation for NIA will also be discussed with related people including the Governor.”
The Agency has already requested Jammu and Kashmir government to provide them safe and secure accommodation preferably in Gupkar high security zone, officials said.
The probe agency has written a letter to J&K chief secretary highlighting “threats its investigators face” on their frequent visits to Srinagar for investigating various cases.
“We are facing a lot of difficulties in detaining, questioning suspects and accused, in absence of our own office,” the NIA letter to the Chief Secretary reads.
The probe agency has taken up investigation of a number of sensitive cases in the state including militant attacks on vital security installations at Uri, Nagrota, Langate, Lethopora, and Udhampur.
For this purpose the NIA officials say they are required to camp at Srinagar continuously for long periods for investigation related work.
It is, therefore, the letter to the chief secretary 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.
The NIA is also been investigating militant funding related cases in the Kashmir valley in which several high profile Hurriyat activists have been arrested.
Most recently, NIA arrested Dukhtran-e-Millat chief Aasiya Andrabi along with her two aides.