Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj arrested by NIA in NGO terror funding case

The central agency said that he is associated with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, which it alleged spreads secessionist agenda in the Valley.

Mar 21, 2023 - 15:59

Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj arrested by NIA in NGO terror funding case

Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj was on Monday arrested by the National Investigation Agency from Srinagar in connection with a terror funding case.

In a statement, the central agency said that Mehraj is a close associate of human rights activist Khurram Parvez, who was arrested in November 2021 under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act. Both Mehraj and Parvez are associated with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, a union of non-profit campaign and advocacy organisations in Srinagar.

“Investigation revealed that the JKCCS [Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society] was funding terror activities in the Valley and had also been in propagation of secessionist agenda in the Valley under the garb of protection of human rights,” the agency alleged. “Involvement of some Valley-based NGOs, trusts and societies in funding of terror-related activities is being probed in this case.”

The National Investigation Agency also alleged that some non-governmental organisations in Jammu and Kashmir have been collecting funds under the garb of charity and welfare activities but have links with militant outfits such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The agency said Mehraj is the first person to be arrested in the case registered in October 2020.

Mehraj has been taken to Delhi, according to journalist Raqib Hameed Naik.

Mehraj is the founding editor of Wande Magazine and now works as...