Who is Irfan Mehraj Kashmiri Freelance journalist arrested by NIA?

A Kashmiri freelancer journalist named Irfan Mehraj has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in an alleged terror funding case. Irfan was arrested on Monday evening by NIA, based on an FIR no RC-37/2020 registered at NIA Delhi.

In a statement, issued to the news agency, a spokesperson of NIA said "following comprehensive investigations into the NGO militancy funding case registered in October 2020, NIA arrested Irfan Mehraj from Srinagar yesterday.

“Investigation revealed that JKCCS was funding militant activities in the valley and had also been in propagation of 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 militacy 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

The statement reads "Certain NGOs, Trusts, and Societies, registered and unregistered, have been alleged to have links with proscribed terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), and others".

These organizations are accused of collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations, business contributions, and other means in the name of charity and various welfare activities such as public health and education.

The funds collected by these organizations are allegedly sent to Jammu & Kashmir through various channels, including cash couriers and Hawala traders based in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, and other parts of India, to sustain secessionist and terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley.

Who is Irfan Mehraj

Irfan Mehraj is a freelance journalist and researcher based in Srinagar, Kashmir. His work has been published in various media outlets such as TRT World, Indian Express, The Caravan, Kashmir Life, Kashmir Reader, and Greater Kashmir, among others.

He was formerly a researcher with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), headed by Khurram Parvez, a human rights activist who was arrested in 2021.

The case pertains to the transfer of money to J&K by NGOs through the Hawala channel for terrorist activities in Kashmir valley.

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