India has said that Pakistan is funding the unrest in the Kashmir Valley.
Highlights
- All 10 accounts have seen huge inflow and outflow of funds
- But account holders' incomes do not warrant it, say officials
- Around Rs. 24 crore was pumped into Kashmir to fuel unrest, say officials
Around 10 bank accounts in Jammu and Kashmir are being investigated by the National Investigative Agency or NIA, for possible funding of terrorist activities and unrest in the valley, top sources have told NDTV. The number of accounts under investigation may go up, the sources added.
"Over the last few months, there have been huge inflow and outflow of funds from these accounts. The accounts are in the name persons whose income doesn't warrant such transaction," a senior NIA officer told NDTV.
Around Rs 24 crore has been pumped into the Valley to fuel the unrest, top officials have told NDTV. Much of the money has been routed to the functionaries of pro-Pakistan separatist groups operating in the Kashmir Valley like the Jammat-e Islami and the Dukhtranan-e-Millat headed by Asiya Andrabi.
The unrest in the Valley, now more than five weeks old, started after Hizbul Mujhahideen terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter on July 8.
Around 65 people have been killed and another 3,000 have been injured. At least one policeman has died and another 3,000 have been injured trying to control the protests and stone pelting.
Top officials admitted that while it could be genuine discontent that triggered the protest, much of the protests over the last few days were engineered.
Initial inquires of the NIA has also shown that money received in these accounts have been promptly disbursed to several people in Jammu and Kashmir.
"We are looking at terror financing and funding of unlawful activities," a senior NIA official told NDTV. The NIA will look into why these funds were received and how they were utilized, he added.