SIA conducts searches at multiple locations in 3 North Kashmir distts: Police

Srinagar: Jammu & Kashmir Police on Wednesday said that State Investigative Agency (SIA) conducted searches at multiple locations in house premises of suspects in Mendhar, Poonch, Baramulla, Kupwara and Handwara were searched in connection with investigation of case FIR No.12/22 U/S 18, 38, 39 UA (P) Act, 120-B, 121,121-A IPC registered in Counter Intelligence Police Station in Srinagar.
In a statementissued by the Police Headquarters, Police said that the case pertains to militant financing via Bitcoin trade, Stating therein further that details are being investigated at the initial stage . “A mastermind in Pakistan who with active support of Pakistani intelligence agencies and in connivance with militant groups based in Pakistan has been pumping slush money to their agents in J&K for further distribution among the militant groups, secessionist(s) for fueling mass violence and militants activities in J&K”, reads the above quoted police statement, adding that “ the Pakistani mastermind has been comprehensively identified and his particulars, however, is being kept confidential because other agents connected with him are not alerted”.
Police in it’s statement further said that houses of those searched on Wednesday include Zahida Bano D/O Mutwali Pathan / Khan R/O Hajinaka Manigah Hyhama, Kupwara Gh. Mujataba Deedad S/O Gh.Nabi Deedad R/O Lone Hari, Kupwara, iii) Tamjeeda Begum W/O Javid Ahmad Chachi R/O Satkoji Rajwara, Handwara iv) Yasir Ahmad Mir S/O Shamas-ud-Din Mir R/O Dewan Bagh Baramulla v) Mohammad Sayed Masoodi S/O Sharief ud-Din R/O Trajpora, Baramulla vi) Farooq Ahmad R/O Gagrian, Mandi Poonch vii) Imran Chowdhary R/O Dharana Mendhar.
Police in it’s statement further more said “Preliminary investigation revealed evidence that the dirty money originating from Pakistan has reached these persons and the transfer of money has been layered to prevent backward tracing of its origin, the investigation has revealed”, Stating therein further that “ While several accounts-in-the-middle that have been used to layer the money are outside J&K, the effective whitewashing of the Pakistani money has taken place through exploitation of loopholes international bitcoin trade”.
In the concluding para of the above referred statement, during searches conducted on Wednesday, incriminating material believed to be hidden in digital devices, SIM cards, Mobile Phones and documents, having a bearing on the investigation have been recovered and seized.