Representative image showing Jammu & Kashmir Police personnel.
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday conducted a series of raids at the residences of eleven alleged terror associates and overground workers (OGWs) across multiple locations in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.
The coordinated search operations were carried out in Srinagar, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Sopore, Kupwara, and Handwara. According to officials, the raids were authorized by a competent court and executed in the presence of Executive Magistrates, adhering to all legal protocols.
They said the individuals targeted are believed to be in direct contact with terrorists based in Pakistan and are suspected of providing logistical support and other forms of assistance to terror networks operating in the Valley.
An official of the SIA, which functions as the Union Territory’s equivalent of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), said several suspects are being investigated for their role in facilitating terrorist activities, including aiding the movement and shelter of militants, handling communication channels, and possibly coordinating recruitment efforts.
“The raids were based on actionable intelligence gathered during ongoing investigations into cross-border terror networks. Digital devices, documents, and other incriminating materials were seized during the searches and are currently being examined for further leads,” he said.
On May 11, the anti-terror probe agency had carried similar raids across South Kashmir in a case linked to the alleged sharing of “sensitive and strategic information about security forces and vital installations” through encrypted messaging platforms.
The crackdown comes in the backdrop of increased cross-border tension marked by last week’s Indo-Pak skirmishes.
Authorities have reiterated that the ongoing operations are focused on disrupting the ecosystem that allows terrorism to persist. “Overground workers and terror associates play a critical role in sustaining militancy. Identifying and neutralizing these elements is essential to ensure lasting peace in the Valley,” J&K police maintain.