Srinagar, 21 March 2023
The National Investigation Agency(NIA) on Tuesday arrested a Kashmiri journalist in Srinagar. As per the sources, Kashmiri freelance Journalist Irfan Mehraj was arrested by a special team of NIA from New Delhi. Irfan Mehraj who is a resident of Mehjoor Nagar Srinagar has worked for several national and international agencies which include TRT World, The Caravan, Kashmir Life, Kashmir Reader, and Greater Kashmir among others.
Confirming the arrest official sources said, Irfan Mehraj, has been arrested by NIA for investigation in case FIR no RC 37/2020 registered in New Delhi.
The official sources said, "Credible information was received by the Central Government that certain NGOs, Trusts and Societies, registered as well as unregistered, are collecting funds domestically and abroad through donations, business contributions etc. in the name of charity and various welfare activities such as public health, education etc. Some of these NGOs have links with proscribed terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) etc.”
“Further, funds collected by such NGOs, Trusts and Societies are sent to Jammu & Kashmir through various channels such as cash couriers, Hawala traders based in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India to sustain the secessionist and terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley, as a part of a larger criminal conspiracy hatched by these NGOs, Trusts and Societies etc., prejudicial to the unity, integrity, sovereignty and security of India.” they said.
They further mentioned that these NGOs, Trusts and Societies by slander and libel means publish anti-national and incriminating material to bring hatred, contempt and disaffection towards the Government of India.
Sources said Irfan was earlier questioned in this case, adding further they said, the journalist was formally arrested on Monday and was moved to New Delhi the same night.
Suchitra Vijayan, author of Midnight's Magazine in a tweet informed, "Kashmiri journalist @IrfanMeraj was arrested by the National Investigation Agency under draconian UAPA in Srinagar today. He has been moved to Delhi" adding that Irfan is a reporter and the founding editor of Wande Magazine. (KDC)
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