Jammu, March 18— Amid rising attacks and civilian
disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted raids at 12 locations in the Jammu region.
According to the NIA, the raids were linked to the infiltration of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants.
The NIA statement revealed that it had received information about LeT and JeM militants infiltrating India through the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC).
“Militants were facilitated by Overground Workers (OGWs) and militant aides living in border areas.
Besides providing logistical support, food, shelter, and money, the suspects also guided the militants through the difficult terrains of Jammu province to ensure their safe passage,” it said, adding, “The militants are then believed to have made their way to the hinterland districts of Kathua, Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi, Rajouri, Poonch, and further into the Kashmir Valley.”
The statement said multiple locations were searched across Jammu.
“NIA teams conducted extensive searches at the homes of OGWs linked with the newly formed offshoots and affiliates of banned militant organisations such as the LeT and JeM,” it said, adding, “Premises of sympathizers and cadres of these outfits were also searched as part of the action taken by the anti-militancy agency in the case RC-04/2024/NIA/JMU.”
As per the statement, the case is linked to a series of attacks carried out by militants on forces and civilians in recent months, allegedly as part of a larger criminal conspiracy by militant organisations to wage war against the Government of India.
“A total of 12 locations in Jammu district were searched today as part of the operation, and several incriminating materials linking the militants with OGWs were seized. NIA teams are examining the material to unravel the militancy conspiracy,” it reads. —(KNO)