Srinagar- The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday said it arrested a Kashmir based journalist Irfan Mehraj in a case related to NGO- militancy funding case.
In a statement, a spokesperson said following comprehensive investigations into the NGO militancy funding case registered in October 2020, NIA arrested Irfan Mehraj from Srinagar yesterday.
The statement reads Irfan Mehraj was a close associate of Khurram Parvez and was working with his organization, Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS).
“Investigation revealed that JKCCS was funding militant activities in the valley and had also been in the propagation of a secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” it reads.
It added involvement of some Valley based NGOs, Trusts and Societies in funding of militancy related activities is being probed in this case.
“Some NGOs, both registered as well as un-registered, have come to notice collecting funds domestically and abroad under the cover of doing charity and various welfare activities, including Public Health, Education etc. But some of these organisations have developed links with LeT, HM etc,” it reads.
PCI Demands Irfan’s Release
Meanwhile the Press Club of India on Tuesday demanded the immediate release of journalist Irfan Mehraj, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency in connection with a terror funding case.
“We vehemently oppose the imposing of UAPA on mediapersons. The misuse of this draconian law by NIA (National Investigation Agency) in randomly arresting Irfan Mehraj, a journalist from Kashmir, ominously points towards a violation of freedom of speech and expression. We demand his immediate release,” the Press Club of India said on Twitter.
The NIA said Mehraj was a close associate of human rights activist Khurram Parvez and working with his organisation, the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Societies (JKCCS).
The agency alleged that investigations revealed the JKCCS was funding terror activities and had also been propagating a secessionist agenda in the Kashmir Valley under the garb of protection of human rights.
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