NIA to prepare list of J&K residents with 'suspicious' bank transactions

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has planned to make a list of Jammu and Kashmir residents and institutions with “suspicious” bank activities for which it will seek assistance from banks and other financial institutions in the state.

According to a report in dna, the NIA has said the move comes in the wake of ongoing unrest that started after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, however, the officials in Delhi said that a “probe into funding of terror and unlawful activities was long overdue.”

NIA Inspector General Sanjeev Singh said that the agency was informed that some individuals and entities in Kashmir have carried out suspicious transactions in the last two months.

"We have investigated a number terror cases and there are many key areas, especially the financial ones, which are to be explored. There has been a steady inflow of money into accounts of many individuals on Kashmir. We are sure that some of the names that have cropped up during our findings might be involved with unlawful activities," Singh said.

A senior official said the transaction could be done in three ways – "One is routine bank transaction wherein an individual is chosen and money transferred into his bank. Second is the Hawala routes and third is the funding that is done using trade."

NIA is likely to investigate some entities linked to cross-border trade between India and Pakistan.

The ongoing protests in Kashmir have so far taken more than 60 lives and injured thousands.